In the current complex and uncertain macroeconomic situation, improving the inherent resilience of the new energy vehicle industry chain is the key to effectively addressing various risks and challenges, and achieving dynamic balance between high-quality industrial development and industrial chain security. Based on the basic concept of resilience and the actual situation of new energy vehicle industry chain development, this study constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for the resilience of the new energy vehicle industry chain, which includes four dimensional first-level indicators of coping resistance, adaptive resilience, autonomous control and leading competitiveness. In addition, it is measured by combining the data related to the new energy vehicle industry chain in Changzhou City. Our study shows that the situation on the new energy vehicle industry chain is complicated, and the comprehensive evaluation index system is more favorable for evaluating its resilience level.

This qualitative study explores the pivotal role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in enhancing resilience within e-commerce supply chains. In an era marked by rapid digital transformation and global interconnectedness, the resilience of supply chains has become a strategic imperative for organizations striving to maintain operational efficiency and meet customer expectations. Through semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers, procurement officers, and strategic sourcing specialists across diverse industries, this research investigates the strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with SRM practices. Findings reveal that effective communication and collaboration are fundamental to successful SRM, fostering trust, transparency, and responsiveness in supplier relationships. Strategic risk management through proactive identification and mitigation strategies enables organizations to navigate uncertainties such as economic fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. SRM implementation yields significant organizational benefits, including improved supply chain efficiencies, enhanced product quality, and increased customer satisfaction. However, challenges such as technological complexities, cultural differences among global suppliers, and regulatory compliance issues underscore the need for adaptive strategies and digital investments. The integration of digital technologies such as AI and blockchain enhances SRM effectiveness by enabling real-time data exchange, predictive insights, and decision-making capabilities. Ultimately, SRM emerges as a cornerstone of sustainable growth and competitive advantage in e-commerce, empowering organizations to optimize supply chain performance and resilience amidst dynamic market conditions.

This study explores the strategic importance of leveraging supplier relationships for competitive advantage in the e-commerce industry. Strong supplier relationships are crucial for enhancing operational efficiencies, cost management, quality assurance, innovation, sustainability, and overall supply chain resilience. Through collaborative partnerships, e-commerce companies can streamline logistics, reduce costs, ensure consistent product quality, and foster innovation through joint development initiatives. Ethical sourcing and sustainable practices play a pivotal role in supplier relationship management (SRM), aligning with consumer expectations and enhancing brand reputation. Advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT further transform SRM practices by improving transparency, efficiency, and decision-making capabilities across the supply chain. The study also discusses challenges in managing global supplier relationships, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and strategic risk management. By addressing these challenges and nurturing trust-based relationships with suppliers, e-commerce firms can navigate market complexities and achieve sustainable growth. This research provides insights for e-commerce companies seeking to optimize their supplier relationships and maintain competitive advantage in a dynamic market environment.

Supplier diversity initiatives in procurement have emerged as strategic imperatives for organizations aiming to enhance competitiveness and foster socio-economic equity. This research investigates the impact of supplier diversity initiatives across various industries, analyzing implementation strategies, challenges, and outcomes through a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative data, including interviews with procurement professionals and case studies of exemplary organizations, reveal diverse approaches to implementing supplier diversity—from formalized programs with dedicated resources to ad hoc initiatives driven by regulatory compliance or social responsibility goals. Challenges identified include the identification and qualification of diverse suppliers, scalability issues, and internal resistance within procurement teams. Quantitative analysis of survey data highlights positive impacts on organizational performance metrics, such as procurement spend allocation towards diverse suppliers, supplier-driven innovation, and enhanced supply chain resilience. Best practices in successful supplier diversity programs underscore strategic alignment with overall procurement strategies, effective supplier relationship management, and strong leadership commitment. Socio-economic impacts encompass economic inclusion, community engagement, and skills development among diverse supplier networks, contributing to local economic growth and broader social benefits. Despite these benefits, challenges remain in measuring qualitative outcomes and overcoming systemic barriers to implementation. Cultivating an inclusive organizational culture and leveraging leadership support are crucial for sustaining supplier diversity efforts. Continued collaboration and innovation in supplier diversity practices are recommended to maximize benefits and drive meaningful socio-economic impact globally.

Agile procurement has emerged as a transformative strategy for organizations striving to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving marketplace. This qualitative research investigates the implementation, benefits, challenges, and outcomes of agile procurement practices in supply chain management. Through semi-structured interviews and case studies across diverse industries, this study explores how agile procurement enhances organizational adaptability and responsiveness. Key findings reveal that agile procurement enables organizations to swiftly adjust strategies in response to market fluctuations and customer demands, fostering increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. The integration of advanced technologies, including AI and blockchain, facilitates real-time data analysis, optimizing procurement processes and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Organizational culture emerges as a critical factor in successful agile procurement, with leadership support and a collaborative environment driving cultural change towards agility and innovation. Despite its benefits, challenges such as resistance to change and the need for significant technology investments are identified, requiring careful change management and strategic alignment. Case studies illustrate the versatility of agile procurement across sectors, showcasing its role in enhancing operational efficiencies, innovation capabilities, and overall supply chain performance. In conclusion, agile procurement offers organizations a strategic framework to navigate complexities and uncertainties effectively, capitalizing on market opportunities while mitigating risks. Embracing agile principles fosters a resilient organizational culture capable of adapting to dynamic market conditions. Future research should focus on further refining agile procurement strategies to address emerging challenges and sustain competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

This qualitative study explores the transformative role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in the context of e-commerce, focusing on the integration of digital technologies and evolving supplier interactions. As digital advancements such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analytics, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) reshape traditional SRM practices, e-commerce companies are experiencing significant improvements in efficiency, transparency, and collaboration. This research employs semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and case studies to examine the impact of these technologies on SRM, identify key collaborative practices, and assess risk management strategies. Findings indicate that digital integration enhances decision-making, streamlines operations, and fosters deeper, trust-based supplier relationships. AI facilitates predictive analytics and automates processes, while blockchain provides transparency and reduces fraud. Data analytics supports informed sourcing decisions and risk mitigation, and cloud platforms improve real-time collaboration. IoT enhances supply chain visibility, allowing for better inventory management. Despite these benefits, challenges such as high implementation costs, integration difficulties, data privacy concerns, and security risks remain significant barriers. Collaboration practices, including joint development, shared resources, and coordinated marketing, contribute to innovation and mutual growth, emphasizing the need for effective communication and trust. Risk management strategies, such as scenario planning and supplier diversification, are crucial for maintaining supply chain resilience. Strategic alignment between e-commerce companies and suppliers, including goal congruence and capability matching, is essential for seamless coordination and competitive advantage. The study underscores the importance of a holistic approach to SRM, integrating technology, collaboration, risk management, and strategic alignment to navigate the complexities of supplier relationships in the digital age. These insights provide a framework for e-commerce companies to optimize their SRM practices and achieve sustainable growth in a dynamic marketplace.

The integration of supply chain analytics and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems represents a critical strategy for organizations seeking to enhance operational efficiency and customer-centricity in today's competitive business environment. This qualitative study investigates the motivations, strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with integrating supply chain analytics with CRM systems across diverse industries. Motivations for integration include gaining a unified view of customer data, improving decision-making capabilities, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring strategic alignment across organizational functions. Strategies employed by organizations include cross-functional collaboration, investment in scalable technology platforms, and leadership commitment to drive successful integration initiatives. Despite the potential benefits, the integration process presents challenges such as data integration complexities, technical interoperability issues, and organizational resistance to change. Addressing these challenges requires robust technological solutions, effective change management strategies, and a proactive approach to data governance and security. The study identifies significant outcomes from integration efforts, including improved operational efficiency through streamlined processes and optimized resource allocation, enhanced customer insights leading to personalized experiences, and strengthened strategic decision-making supported by real-time analytics.

This study explores the dynamic interplay between supply chain integration and marketing strategies in achieving customer satisfaction. Through a qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews with supply chain and marketing professionals, the research delves into how these traditionally distinct functions can be aligned to enhance operational efficiency and deliver superior customer experiences. Findings reveal that strategic alignment between supply chain management (SCM) and marketing fosters better coordination of product availability and service delivery, thereby meeting customer expectations consistently and enhancing brand loyalty. Information sharing and technological integration emerge as critical enablers, facilitating real-time data exchange and collaborative decision-making. The study also identifies challenges such as organizational silos, cultural resistance, and technological constraints that impede seamless integration, highlighting the need for proactive strategies to foster cross-functional collaboration. Additionally, the evolving roles of sustainability and customer-centricity are emphasized as key drivers for differentiating brands and achieving competitive advantage. By integrating sustainable practices and adopting a customer-centric approach, organizations can build stronger customer relationships and enhance their market position. The research underscores the importance of leadership support, investment in technology, and a collaborative organizational culture in overcoming integration barriers. The study’s findings provide actionable insights for organizations aiming to optimize their SCM and marketing strategies, drive innovation, and sustain growth in an increasingly complex and competitive business environment. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on supply chain and marketing integration, offering practical recommendations for achieving customer satisfaction and long-term success.

This qualitative research investigates the role of collaborative planning in synchronizing supply chain and marketing activities among multinational companies (MNCs). Collaborative planning integrates traditionally separate functions to enhance operational efficiency, customer responsiveness, and strategic alignment. The study employs semi-structured interviews with key informants from diverse MNCs across industries and geographies to explore practices, challenges, and outcomes associated with collaborative planning initiatives. Findings highlight the pivotal role of cross-functional collaboration and advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics, in improving demand forecasting accuracy, optimizing inventory management, and enabling personalized marketing strategies. Challenges include organizational resistance, cultural barriers, and the complexity of aligning global strategies. Strategic outcomes encompass improved operational efficiency, cost savings, enhanced customer satisfaction, and strengthened competitive advantage. Moreover, the integration of sustainability goals underscores the importance of environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance in collaborative planning frameworks. The study also identifies emerging trends in digital transformation and agile supply chains shaping future practices. Overall, collaborative planning emerges as a strategic imperative for MNCs to navigate complexities, capitalize on opportunities, and sustain growth in a globalized marketplace.

Aligning supply chain and marketing functions is crucial for high-tech startups aiming to successfully launch new products in competitive markets. This qualitative research explores the strategies, challenges, benefits, and best practices associated with supply chain and marketing alignment in high-tech startups. Through a detailed analysis of case studies and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, the study identifies key insights into how startups can effectively integrate these functions to enhance operational efficiency, market responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and risk management. The findings reveal that successful alignment requires the formation of cross-functional teams, leveraging integrated technologies like CRM and ERP systems, establishing regular inter-departmental communication, and developing joint performance metrics. These strategies foster collaboration and ensure that supply chain and marketing efforts are coordinated towards shared goals. However, startups face challenges such as differing departmental objectives, resource constraints, communication barriers, and technological limitations, which hinder effective alignment. Benefits observed from effective alignment include improved operational efficiency through streamlined processes, enhanced market responsiveness to adapt quickly to changing demands, increased customer satisfaction by delivering products that meet market expectations, and better risk management through proactive identification and mitigation of supply chain and market risks. Best practices identified include fostering a culture of collaboration, investing in technology for data integration and transparency, aligning strategic objectives across functions, and continuously monitoring and adjusting alignment strategies. Integration of broader elements such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, marketing, and supplier relationship management further enriches the alignment framework. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how high-tech startups can strategically align their supply chain and marketing functions to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable growth in dynamic market environments.

This study explores the impact of supply chain visibility (SCV) on marketing strategies within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. In a rapidly evolving market characterized by complex supply chains and dynamic consumer demands, SCV offers a transformative capability by providing real-time data and insights into supply chain operations. Through semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners, the research identifies several key themes: enhanced demand forecasting, increased consumer trust through transparency, improved marketing agility, and the integration of advanced technologies. Findings suggest that SCV significantly improves the accuracy of demand forecasts by providing timely insights into inventory levels, production schedules, and market conditions. This enhanced forecasting aligns supply chain capabilities with marketing efforts, reducing stockouts and optimizing promotional activities. Moreover, SCV fosters consumer trust by enabling transparency regarding product sourcing and ethical practices, which can be effectively communicated in marketing campaigns to build brand loyalty. The agility provided by SCV allows companies to quickly adjust their marketing strategies in response to market disruptions and shifts in consumer preferences, making their campaigns more resilient and responsive. Advanced technologies such as IoT, blockchain, and analytics further enhance the benefits of SCV, providing deeper insights and more sophisticated capabilities for marketing. The study also highlights the importance of cross-functional collaboration between supply chain and marketing teams in leveraging SCV data effectively. Despite challenges such as the need for significant investment and organizational change, the advantages of SCV in enhancing marketing strategies and overall organizational performance are substantial. The research underscores SCV's critical role in shaping effective marketing strategies, offering FMCG companies a path to greater efficiency, agility, and consumer engagement in a competitive landscape.

This study investigates green logistics strategies adopted by businesses to enhance sustainability within their supply chains, particularly focusing on reducing carbon footprints and environmental impacts associated with transportation and distribution activities. Through qualitative analysis and interviews with supply chain managers, industry experts, and sustainability officers, this research provides insights into motivations, strategies, challenges, and benefits related to green logistics practices. Key findings highlight the critical role of aligning green logistics with corporate sustainability goals. Advanced technologies such as telematics, GPS tracking, and data analytics are instrumental in optimizing transportation routes, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing emissions. Additionally, strategies like using eco-friendly vehicles, energy-efficient warehouse operations, and implementing reverse logistics are identified as effective means to mitigate environmental impacts. Collaboration and partnerships with suppliers, logistics providers, and stakeholders are essential for sharing best practices and fostering joint initiatives. Despite benefits such as cost savings and enhanced corporate reputation, challenges include high initial investments, the absence of standardized metrics for environmental impact, and regulatory complexities. However, regulatory compliance also acts as a driver for green logistics adoption and presents opportunities for improving sustainability performance. The integration of sustainability goals with logistics strategies underscores the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable supply chain management. This holistic approach encompasses aspects of entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, marketing, and supplier relationship management.

This qualitative study investigates the adoption of Lean Principles in Supply Chain Management (SCM), aiming to explore the motivations, challenges, and outcomes associated with Lean implementation across diverse organizational contexts. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, insights were gleaned from stakeholders involved in SCM processes, revealing the critical role of organizational culture, leadership commitment, and strategic alignment in driving successful Lean initiatives. The findings underscore the importance of fostering a culture of continuous improvement, where employees are empowered to proactively identify and address inefficiencies. Leadership emerged as pivotal in setting the tone, providing resources, and championing Lean initiatives, while strategic alignment ensured integration with broader organizational goals and objectives. Operational practices and processes were central, highlighting the need for customization and contextual adaptation in Lean implementation. Despite the potential benefits, the outcomes and impact of Lean adoption varied depending on factors such as organizational maturity and industry context. The study also revealed broader cultural and organizational changes catalyzed by Lean adoption, fostering innovation, collaboration, and adaptability. In summary, this study contributes to our understanding of Lean adoption in SCM, offering practical insights for organizations seeking to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in today's dynamic business landscape.

Ethical sourcing practices play a pivotal role in addressing price inflation within renewable energy supply chains. This qualitative research investigates the multifaceted impacts of ethical sourcing, drawing insights from interviews with key stakeholders in the renewable energy sector. The study reveals that ethical sourcing enhances supply chain transparency, traceability, and resilience by mitigating risks associated with unethical practices such as labor exploitation and environmental degradation. Fair trade initiatives contribute to economic stability and reduce price volatility by ensuring fair compensation for producers and workers, fostering long-term relationships, and reinvesting premiums into community development projects. Sustainable sourcing practices align with consumer preferences for eco-friendly products, reduce the demand for virgin resources, and promote regulatory compliance and incentives, thereby stabilizing costs and reducing environmental impact. Socially responsible companies that prioritize fair labor practices and community support experience fewer disruptions and benefit from a more stable and productive workforce. Entrepreneurship and emotional intelligence among leaders drive the adoption and successful implementation of ethical sourcing practices, enhancing brand reputation, consumer trust, and market competitiveness. Despite challenges, such as higher implementation costs and supplier resistance, the long-term benefits of ethical sourcing outweigh the initial costs and contribute to sustainable supply chains. Collaboration, consumer education, and effective regulation are essential for promoting ethical sourcing across the renewable energy sector.

In the past few years, cloud-based additive manufacturing has shown its application and potential in industries. For this reason, when the demand for cloud-based additive products increases, efficient scheduling of related tasks becomes more important to achieve optimized duration. This research proposes a Heuristic Scheduling Algorithm (HSA) for use in Cloud-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) with an approach to Critical Chain Buffer Management (CC/BM). This research aims to schedule and optimize the time in cloud-based additive manufacturing, in addition to the parts production process, it also includes the steps of receiving online orders and informing the manufacturing unit and sending them to the customer. The HSA proposed in this research consists of three phases 1- Buffer sizing, 2- Additive manufacturing and logistics scheduling, and 3- Buffer controlling. To evaluate, the performance of the algorithm is simulated. The finding shows that the proposed HAS can effectively solve the CBAM scheduling problem.

This paper applied case study research to design architectures for green-field supply chain integration. The integration design is based on a case study of a supply chain integration of 5 companies, operating in different, but supply chain complimenting industry sectors. The case study research is applied to design and validate the architectures in a real world scenario. The supply chain integration architectures enable the conversion of individual into integrated strategies. The architectures are categorised and the process develops into a conceptual system for identifying the correlations between individual participants’ strategic areas of interest and the integrated supply chain areas of interest. The novelty of this paper is a conceptual system for green-field supply chain integration architectures, which can be applied in real world by supply chain practitioners.

Resilience is a particularly important quality for supply chains in this turbulent environment. Resilience in supply chain is the ability to retain, resume, and recover operations after an intense destructive incident. One of the strategic solutions for managing supply chain disruptions is to establish collaboration and strategic alliances in order to achieve competitive advantage. Therefore, given the increasing publication of articles in areas of strategic alliances and supply chain resilience, it is a good opportunity to review these articles, identify gaps in the current literature, demonstrate links between the two areas, and provide suggestions for future research. For these purposes, a bibliometric analysis has been performed on literature available on the Web of Science database. The distribution of articles based on year and country, influential journals, research areas, authors, affiliations, keywords, citations, and reference co-citation analysis are discussed. Results indicate that studies about strategic alliances, meant to increase resilience, are growing in areas such as “Management”, “Operations research”, “Management science”, and “Business”. Furthermore, the sources could be categorized in five clusters; namely “From knowledge concept to value creation”, “Internal and external relationships”, “Logistics and supply chain performance”, “Intellectual capital and strategic management”, and “Critical success factors and alliances”. This article can be useful for both practitioners and academics who explore the topic of strategic alliances and resilience in supply chain and also offers managers the opportunity to overcome supply chain disruptions and negative consequences of risks by becoming familiar with the key concepts of resilience. The persistence of businesses and supply chains is guaranteed through communicating with partners and even competitors in the light of alliance according to the findings of this research. Managers can pay attention to the integration of the supply chain to improve resilience and increase collaboration between suppliers and customers. Given the research results, strategic alliances can be noted in expanding organizational entrepreneurship, and shaping strategic collaboration networks in light of strategic alliances.

The fish supply chain (FSC) industry faces a significant challenge in terms of maintaining fish quality and authenticity throughout the chain. The main goal of modern FSC systems is tracking and tracing the fish product at each stage, from harvester to end customer, as well as assessing its quality and authenticity. Integrating FSC with new technologies, such as Blockchain (BC), Big Data, Artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT), enhances fish product traceability, authenticity, visibility, and security. We propose a BC-based FSC framework that follows a layered architecture consisting of a SC layer, an IoT layer, and a BC layer. We integrate a new AI-based hand-held device, a Quality, Adulteration & Traceability (QAT) device, that can identify fish species and assess fish quality. We leverage the key features of BC and smart contracts, deployed over the Ethereum platform for the proposed framework integrated with QAT technology. Extensive validation of smart contracts is conducted to prove its practical feasibility.

The Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) combines the concepts of bioeconomy and circular economy. As an alternative concept to the current fossil-based, linear economy, it de-scribes an economy based on the efficient valorization of biomass. It is regional in nature and aims to improve sustainability. An analysis of the transition process, by identifying its success criteria and assessing its impacts through the modelling of technology-specific scenarios is necessary to ensure that CBE concepts are sustainable. However, a compre-hensive consideration of regional influences on both is lacking. Based on extensive literature research and an expert survey, we (i) present a compre-hensive catalog of CBE success criteria and discuss their region-specific character and (ii) develop a methodology based on evaluation matrices that enable to match CBE technolo-gies with regions. The matrices support the evaluation of technological and regional characteristics influencing the successful CBE implementation. The results show that the success criteria "biomass resources", "technological", and "social" are perceived as highly important, and that most of the success criteria are both region- and technology-specific, highlighting the relevance of developing matrices to match them. We describe such matrices indicatively for the two broadest and most im-portant success criteria clusters “social acceptance” and “biomass supply chain”. With this, we substantiate the regional nature of CBE and raise the awareness on the importance of considering regional conditions in CBE transition processes. Furthermore, we provide practical guidance on how regional conditions can be reflected in the selection of technologies, e.g. in regional CBE technology scenarios.

The degree of collaboration among supply chain partners and the structure of the network are important determinants of the level of satisfaction customers derive from the products or services. However, the effects of these dimensions on customer satisfaction at the downstream section of the supply chain remain under-researched in Nigeria. This study precisely examined the effects of collaboration and supply chain design on customers’ satisfaction at the downstream end of the chain using Ekiti State as study area. The study employed descriptive survey design with the use of structured Likert scale questionnaire administered to 381 retailers of noodles in Ekiti State. The research hypotheses were analysed using simple linear regression as statistical technique with the aid of SPSS version 22.0. At the end of the study, it was observed that both collaboration and supply chain design were significant predictors of customers’ satisfaction of instant noodles in Ekiti State. However, collaboration among supply chain partners emerged as stronger determinant of customers’ satisfaction than supply chain design. The study concludes that these two practices of supply chain management are highly important criteria any manufacturing firm especially in the noodles industry must pay close attention to in order to satisfy her consumers.

The world is facing an unprecedented socio-economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). It is also spreading through the import and export food supply chains. The Chinese authorities have discovered the COVID-19 virus in various imported frozen meat packages. Traceability plays a vital role in food quality and food safety. The Internet of Things (IoT) provides solutions to keep an eye on environmental conditions, product quality, and product traceability. These solutions are traditionally based on the centralized architecture, which does not guarantee tamper-proof data sharing. The blockchain is an emerging technology that provides tamper-proof data sharing in real-time. This article presents Hyperledger Fabric-based blockchain use case and a quick reference guide to develop the blockchain network for tracking and tracing the supply chain to minimize the risk of COVID-19 in the frozen meat supply chain.

Smart technology is essential for integrating circular economy principles. This study examines how conflict management strategies including collaboration, accommodation, avoidance, compromise, and competitions impact smart technology adoption, particularly blockchain, in Jordanian SMEs, a context that has been under-explored. Additionally, the research examines the moderating role of customer-centric green supply chain management in the relationship between blockchain adoption and the implementation of circular economy principles. Data were collected from 421 senior managers, department heads, and executives of Jordanian SMEs. Primarily, this study employed robust methodological approach, a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique, to test the hypotheses and analyze complex relationships. This research provides valuable insights into the adoption of blockchain technology in Jordanian SMEs, highlighting the importance of strategic conflict management, a context that is rarely explored. Incorporating customer-centric green supply chain management as a moderating factor enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of SMEs through blockchain technology. This approach offers new insights into how blockchain technology aligns with circular economic principles, highlighting the strategic role of conflict management in driving technological innovation and sustainability. The study results indicate that conflict management strategies have a significant impact on the adoption of blockchain technology among Jordanian SMEs. The results also revealed a unique finding that collaboration and compromise are the most influential strategies. Furthermore, the study found that blockchain adoption positively impacts the implementation of circular economy principles. This study provides theoretical and practical insights for SMEs, especially in the context of Jordan.

This qualitative study explores the role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in optimizing inventory within the context of e-commerce. Through semi-structured interviews with e-commerce managers and supply chain experts, the study investigates the strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with SRM practices. Key findings highlight the critical importance of strategic partnerships with suppliers, emphasizing trust, transparency, and goal alignment as foundational elements for effective SRM. Participants underscored the transformative impact of technological advancements, including advanced analytics and blockchain technology, in enhancing supply chain visibility, optimizing inventory levels, and improving operational agility. However, the study also identifies challenges in SRM implementation, such as cultural differences, regulatory compliance, and geographical distances, which require proactive management strategies. Innovation emerges as a key driver of competitive advantage in e-commerce, facilitated through collaborative R&D initiatives and co-innovation with suppliers. Strategic alignment with organizational goals is crucial for integrating SRM practices with broader business objectives, including operational efficiency and risk mitigation. Recommendations include adopting integrated SRM strategies that leverage technological innovations while maintaining a focus on relationship-building and sustainability. Enhanced supplier performance monitoring, proactive risk management, and the integration of sustainable practices are proposed to strengthen supplier relationships and enhance supply chain resilience. By addressing these insights, e-commerce firms can optimize inventory management, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable growth in the digital economy.

This study investigates the critical role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in enhancing the e-commerce user experience. In an increasingly competitive digital marketplace, effective SRM practices are essential for optimizing supply chain operations and meeting customer expectations. The research employs a qualitative approach, combining semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders, extensive literature review, and case studies to explore various dimensions of SRM. Key findings reveal that strategic supplier selection criteria, including quality, cost efficiency, reliability, innovation, and sustainability, are pivotal in ensuring a robust and adaptable supply chain. Effective communication practices, such as transparency, frequent updates, and digital tools, foster strong supplier relationships and enable timely issue resolution. Performance management strategies, centered on KPI monitoring and continuous improvement, support operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Risk management practices, including diversification, contingency planning, and advanced analytics, are crucial for mitigating disruptions and ensuring supply chain resilience, as highlighted by the challenges posed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological integration with blockchain, AI, IoT, data analytics, and automation enhances efficiency, transparency, and decision-making capabilities in SRM. Furthermore, the study underscores the evolving integration of sustainability and ethical sourcing into SRM strategies, reflecting broader corporate responsibility goals. Ultimately, this research contributes to understanding how effective SRM strategies drive competitive advantage in e-commerce by enhancing supply chain reliability, responsiveness, and customer-centricity. As e-commerce continues to evolve, adapting and innovating SRM practices will be vital for companies aiming to sustain growth and meet the dynamic demands of global markets.

This qualitative study explores the dynamics of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and its impact on innovation within the e-commerce sector. Through in-depth interviews and documentary analysis of three case study firms known for their innovative practices, the study examines how collaborative SRM practices influence innovation outcomes, organizational resilience, and competitive advantage in dynamic market environments. Key themes include the pivotal role of trust, transparency, and joint problem-solving in fostering effective SRM relationships, enabling knowledge sharing and co-development of innovative products and services. Innovation outcomes observed encompass product innovation, process improvements, and technological advancements facilitated by close collaboration between e-commerce firms and their suppliers. Challenges such as managing supplier diversity, navigating regulatory complexities, and mitigating geopolitical risks highlight the complexities and strategic imperatives of SRM implementation in global supply chains. The study also emphasizes the transformative role of digital technologies, including real-time data exchange, predictive analytics, and agile supply chain management, in enhancing SRM effectiveness and innovation capabilities. Strategic alignment with organizational goals and market strategies further enhances the impact of SRM, enabling firms to prioritize innovation initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and sustain growth amidst economic uncertainties. The findings contribute to theoretical understanding and practical insights into SRM strategies that promote innovation excellence and competitive positioning within e-commerce. The implications for practice underscore the importance of fostering collaborative supplier relationships, investing in digital transformation, and adopting proactive strategies to manage risks and regulatory compliance.

This qualitative study explores the complexities of managing suppliers for quality among Italian restaurant owners, investigating their perspectives, challenges, and strategic approaches in supplier management. Through semi-structured interviews with 15 restaurant owners across diverse regions of Italy, key themes emerged regarding supplier selection criteria, challenges in supplier management, strategies for ensuring quality, and the impact of external factors on supply chain dynamics. Findings reveal that authenticity, reliability, and sustainability are paramount in supplier selection, aligning with consumer expectations for genuine Italian ingredients and culinary excellence. Economic pressures, operational disruptions, and external influences, exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitate adaptive strategies such as cost-effective sourcing, rigorous quality control measures, and technological integration to maintain supply chain continuity and uphold quality standards. Strategic initiatives, including rigorous quality assurance protocols, digital procurement platforms, and collaborative partnerships with suppliers, enhance transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness in supply chain operations. Entrepreneurial initiatives and emotional intelligence play crucial roles in fostering innovative sourcing strategies and building trust-based relationships with suppliers, enhancing supply chain resilience and responsiveness to market demands. External factors, such as market dynamics and sustainability trends, underscore the need for continuous adaptation and strategic foresight in supplier management practices. The study contributes to understanding the intricate dynamics of supplier management in Italian cuisine, offering insights for enhancing operational efficiency, maintaining quality standards, and fostering sustainable supplier relationships in the food service industry.

This qualitative study explores how businesses are adapting their Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies to address the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented by evolving e-commerce trends. Through in-depth interviews with key industry stakeholders, the research investigates the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into SRM practices. Findings reveal that these technologies enhance efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness within supply chains, enabling businesses to navigate complexities such as supply chain dynamics, fluctuating consumer demand, and regulatory compliance. The study identifies effective strategies employed by businesses, including enhancing communication channels with suppliers, diversifying supplier bases, and investing in technological advancements. These strategies enable businesses to mitigate risks, improve collaboration, and drive innovation, thereby maintaining competitive advantage in the digital marketplace. Collaborative practices such as joint product development, shared risk management, and co-investment in technology emerge as critical drivers of successful SRM. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of SRM in the context of e-commerce, offering insights into how businesses can optimize their supply chain operations amidst technological disruptions and market fluctuations. The findings underscore the importance of proactive adaptation and strategic alignment with suppliers to foster resilient and agile supply chains. As e-commerce continues to evolve, businesses must leverage these insights to refine their SRM strategies and sustain growth in an increasingly competitive environment.

This study investigates the adoption of emerging technologies in procurement within supply chain management, focusing on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. Through a qualitative approach, involving semi-structured interviews with procurement professionals and technology experts, the study explores how these technologies enhance operational efficiency, optimize inventory management, and improve supply chain transparency and trust. AI-driven predictive analytics were found to significantly enhance demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and supplier performance evaluation, fostering data-driven decision-making and proactive risk management. Blockchain technology ensures secure and transparent transactions, facilitating compliance with ethical sourcing standards and reducing risks associated with counterfeit goods. Despite these benefits, organizations face substantial challenges in adopting these technologies, including data security concerns, integration complexities with existing IT infrastructure, and skills shortages in AI and blockchain expertise. Leadership commitment and organizational readiness are identified as crucial enablers for overcoming these barriers and driving successful technology adoption. The study also highlights the strategic importance of supplier relationship management, emphasizing how emerging technologies enhance real-time collaboration, performance insights, and contractual transparency. By addressing these challenges and leveraging technological innovations strategically, organizations can achieve sustainable growth, resilience, and competitive advantage in an increasingly digital and interconnected global economy. The findings contribute to advancing knowledge on procurement innovation and offer valuable insights for organizations seeking to navigate the complexities of technology-driven procurement practices. Future research directions may explore the long-term impact of technology adoption on supply chain dynamics, sustainability initiatives, and organizational performance.

This qualitative study explores the role of supply chain partnerships in enhancing brand value through collaborative marketing efforts. By analyzing diverse cases from industries including consumer electronics, apparel, automotive, and food and beverage, the research examines how different forms of partnerships—strategic alliances, co-marketing, joint ventures, and supplier integrations—contribute to brand value. The study employed a multiple case study design, incorporating semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and participant observations to gather data. The findings reveal that these partnerships enable companies to leverage complementary strengths, resulting in enhanced innovation, product quality, sustainability, market reach, and ethical standards. Collaborative marketing strategies such as joint product launches, sustainable branding campaigns, and co-developed customer programs are identified as key drivers of brand value, effectively increasing brand awareness, customer loyalty, market share, and perceived quality. Despite challenges like coordination complexity, goal misalignment, cultural differences, and cost management issues, the benefits realized—such as improved brand image, faster time-to-market, and reduced costs—demonstrate the substantial value of effective supply chain partnerships. The study underscores the importance of strategic alignment between supply chain activities and brand objectives, highlighting that successful partnerships foster deeper consumer engagement and stronger market positions. This research provides actionable insights for companies seeking to optimize their supply chain collaborations to enhance brand value, offering a foundation for future studies and practical applications in supply chain management and marketing. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how supply chain partnerships can be strategically managed to drive brand excellence in a competitive market environment.

The integration of supply chain data analytics with marketing strategies has become increasingly critical for organizations seeking to enhance customer insights and competitive advantage in today's dynamic business environment. This qualitative research explores the intersection of these two disciplines, focusing on implementation strategies, benefits, challenges, and future directions. Through semi-structured interviews with industry experts and stakeholders, key themes emerged, highlighting the importance of cross-functional collaboration, technological integration, and robust data governance in achieving effective integration. The study identifies significant benefits, including enhanced customer insights, improved operational efficiencies, and competitive advantage through personalized marketing strategies and optimized supply chain management. However, challenges such as data silos, technological complexities, and regulatory compliance issues pose barriers that require strategic solutions and organizational commitment. Future directions point towards the continued evolution of predictive analytics, AI-driven solutions, and sustainability integration, shaping the future landscape of supply chain management and marketing. Proactive engagement with regulatory frameworks and ethical considerations will be crucial in navigating these challenges and building trust with consumers. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how organizations can leverage data analytics to drive strategic decision-making, enhance customer relationships, and achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly data-driven economy.

This qualitative research explores the intricate relationship between cultural influences on supply chain practices and their implications for marketing strategies. Cultural dimensions such as individualism versus collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and contextuality significantly shape decision-making processes, risk management strategies, and relationship dynamics within global supply chains. Through semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers, marketing executives, and cultural experts across diverse industries and regions, this study investigates how cultural values impact supply chain operations and consumer engagement strategies. Key findings highlight that collectivist cultures prioritize consensus-building and long-term relationships, fostering trust and collaboration among supply chain partners. In contrast, individualist cultures emphasize efficiency and accountability but may face challenges in relationship building. Risk management practices vary with cultural orientations towards uncertainty, influencing the adoption of structured versus flexible approaches to mitigate disruptions. In terms of marketing implications, the study underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity in crafting effective strategies. High-context cultures require marketing messages that resonate emotionally through implicit communication and cultural symbolism, while low-context cultures prefer clear, direct messaging focusing on product benefits. The study concludes by advocating for cultural competence as a strategic imperative for global businesses, enabling them to leverage cultural diversity for innovation and competitive advantage. It emphasizes the need for continuous adaptation to cultural nuances and market dynamics to foster inclusive collaboration and achieve sustainable growth in a globalized economy.

This qualitative research explores the intricate relationship between cultural influences on supply chain practices and their implications for marketing strategies. Cultural dimensions such as individualism versus collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and contextuality significantly shape decision-making processes, risk management strategies, and relationship dynamics within global supply chains. Through semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers, marketing executives, and cultural experts across diverse industries and regions, this study investigates how cultural values impact supply chain operations and consumer engagement strategies. Key findings highlight that collectivist cultures prioritize consensus-building and long-term relationships, fostering trust and collaboration among supply chain partners. In contrast, individualist cultures emphasize efficiency and accountability but may face challenges in relationship building. Risk management practices vary with cultural orientations towards uncertainty, influencing the adoption of structured versus flexible approaches to mitigate disruptions. In terms of marketing implications, the study underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity in crafting effective strategies. High-context cultures require marketing messages that resonate emotionally through implicit communication and cultural symbolism, while low-context cultures prefer clear, direct messaging focusing on product benefits. The study concludes by advocating for cultural competence as a strategic imperative for global businesses, enabling them to leverage cultural diversity for innovation and competitive advantage. It emphasizes the need for continuous adaptation to cultural nuances and market dynamics to foster inclusive collaboration and achieve sustainable growth in a globalized economy.

This qualitative investigation delves into the intricate interplay of cultural factors within supply chain integration, aiming to elucidate how diverse cultural dimensions shape communication dynamics, decision-making processes, and collaborative efforts among global supply chain practitioners. Employing a phenomenological approach, the study explores the lived experiences and subjective perceptions of supply chain managers and professionals, providing nuanced insights into the profound impact of national culture, organizational culture, digital technologies, and sustainability considerations on supply chain operations. Key findings highlight the significant influence of national culture, as conceptualized by Hofstede's cultural dimensions, on supply chain interactions. These dimensions—such as power distance, individualism versus collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity versus femininity—play crucial roles in shaping how individuals perceive authority, manage risks, negotiate agreements, and engage in collaborative practices across diverse cultural contexts. Cultural norms and values deeply influence both intra-organizational dynamics and inter-organizational relationships within global supply chains. Organizational culture emerges as a pivotal determinant of supply chain integration success. Cultures characterized by transparency, trust, inclusivity, and a commitment to continuous improvement create environments conducive to effective cross-border collaboration. Conversely, organizations with conflicting or ambiguous cultural norms face challenges in aligning goals, fostering mutual understanding, and maintaining open communication channels with international partners. The study underscores the transformative role of digital technologies in enhancing supply chain management practices. Technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things improve supply chain visibility, optimize operations, and enhance decision-making processes, strengthening resilience against disruptions. The adoption and integration of these technologies depend on organizational readiness, technological capabilities, and cultural acceptance within supply chain networks. Cultural factors influence the adoption pace, implementation strategies, and utilization patterns of digital technologies, emphasizing the need for strategic alignment between technological investments and cultural norms to maximize their potential benefits. Furthermore, sustainability considerations are critical in shaping cultural values and priorities within supply chain networks. Organizations increasingly recognize the importance of environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing practices, and corporate social responsibility in shaping their reputations, stakeholder relationships, and long-term business goals. Cultural factors significantly influence organizations' approaches to sustainability, guiding their strategic decisions and operational practices.

This qualitative research investigates the intricate relationship between market dynamics and supply chain sustainability in the renewable energy sector. Amidst the global energy transition, renewable energy has emerged as a crucial player in mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development. However, ensuring the sustainability of renewable energy supply chains presents complex challenges shaped by various market forces. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, this study explores how policy frameworks, technological innovation, market competition, consumer preferences, and investor demands influence sustainability practices across the renewable energy supply chain. The findings highlight the critical role of supportive policy environments, technological advancements, and stakeholder collaboration in driving sustainability performance and mitigating risks within renewable energy supply chains. Furthermore, the study identifies challenges such as supply chain complexity, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts and multi-stakeholder partnerships. By addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities, stakeholders can advance sustainability goals, mitigate climate change impacts, and foster a more resilient and equitable renewable energy sector. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of market dynamics and supply chain sustainability in the renewable energy sector, offering insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and sustainability practitioners to inform evidence-based decision-making and drive positive change.

Perceived peer support is a critical factor in the academic adjustment of higher vocational college students. While previous studies have explored this relationship, few studies have delved into the underlying mechanisms. This study surveyed 9782 students from 35 higher vocational colleges in 13 provinces and cities in China to explore the relationship and mechanisms between perceived peer support and academic adjustment. Drawing on Conservation of Resources theory and Social Support Resource theory, the findings revealed that perceived peer support not only directly predicted the academic adjustment of higher vocational college students, but also indirectly through the independent mediating effect of academic hope and professional identity, as well as the chain-mediating effect of academic hope to professional identity. Additionally, students from vocational high schools showed a more significant increase in academic hope due to perceived peer support compared to those from general high schools, highlighting the moderating effect of educational background. The study provided a new theoretical perspective for understanding the complex mechanisms of academic adjustment in students and offers valuable guidance for educational practice, emphasizing the importance of fostering perceived peer support, academic hope, and professional identity in higher vocational education.

Clean use of photons from light to activate chemical reactions offer many possibilities in different fields, from chemistry and biology to materials science and medicine. This review article describes the advances carried out in last decades toward the phototriggered synthesis of single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) as soft nanomaterials with promising applications in enzyme-mimicking catalysis and nanomedicine, among other different uses. First, we summarize different strategies developed to synthesize SCNPs based on photoactivated intrachain homocoupling, phototriggered intrachain heterocoupling and photogenerated collapse induced by external cross-linker. Next, we comprehensively review the emergent topic of photoactivated multifolding applied to SCNP construction. Finally, we conclude by summarizing recent strategies towards phototriggered disassembly of SCNPs.

The folding of certain proteins (e.g., enzymes) into perfectly defined 3D conformations via multi-orthogonal interactions is critical to their function. Concerning synthetic polymers chains, the “folding” of individual polymer chains at high dilution via intra-chain interactions leads to so-called single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs). This review article describes the advances carried out in recent years in the folding of single polymer chains into discrete SCNPs via multi-orthogonal interactions using different reactive chemical species where intra-chain bonding only occurs between groups of the same species. First, we summarize results from computer simulations of multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs. Next, we comprehensively review multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs synthesized via either non-covalent bonds or covalent interactions. Finally, we conclude by summarizing recent research about multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs prepared through both reversible (dynamic) and permanent bonds.

This qualitative research explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) within the e-commerce sector. SRM is critical for e-commerce platforms to maintain efficient supply chains, optimize supplier interactions, and ensure competitive advantage in a dynamic marketplace. AI technologies offer advanced capabilities such as predictive analytics, machine learning algorithms, and natural language processing, which revolutionize traditional SRM practices by enhancing decision-making accuracy, mitigating supply chain risks, and fostering personalized supplier relationships. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 e-commerce professionals and industry experts, this study investigates AI's impact on supplier selection, operational efficiencies, and strategic supplier relationships. Findings highlight AI's ability to streamline supplier evaluation processes, improve demand forecasting accuracy, and optimize inventory management strategies. AI also facilitates personalized supplier engagement through sentiment analysis and real-time insights, promoting collaboration and trust. Ethical considerations, including algorithmic bias and data privacy, emerge as significant concerns in AI adoption for SRM. Addressing these challenges is crucial to maintaining stakeholder trust and ensuring responsible AI deployment. Furthermore, technological integration barriers and organizational readiness are identified as critical factors influencing successful AI implementation. Looking forward, the study underscores the potential of AI to drive innovation and competitiveness in e-commerce SRM, emphasizing the importance of ethical AI practices, technological infrastructure investments, and organizational preparedness for sustainable growth.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tools play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and competitiveness within e-commerce supply chains. This qualitative research explores the effectiveness of SRM tools in optimizing procurement processes, mitigating risks, and fostering collaborative partnerships with suppliers. The study employs semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in diverse e-commerce sectors to gather insights into the implementation and outcomes of SRM tools. Findings reveal that technological advancements, including AI, blockchain, and data analytics, facilitate real-time communication, decision-making, and supply chain visibility, thereby enabling organizations to achieve cost savings and operational efficiencies. Enhanced supplier relationships through SRM tools contribute to collaborative innovation, faster product development cycles, and improved customer satisfaction. However, challenges such as technological complexity, regulatory compliance, and supplier resistance necessitate strategic management and investment in cybersecurity and compliance frameworks. The research underscores the importance of executive sponsorship, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement in driving successful SRM implementations.

Implementing ethical procurement standards is increasingly recognized as pivotal for organizations aiming to align their practices with principles of social responsibility and sustainability. This qualitative research explores the experiences, challenges, strategies, and impacts associated with ethical procurement across diverse sectors. Motivations for adopting ethical procurement include enhancing corporate reputation, meeting stakeholder expectations, and complying with regulatory frameworks. However, organizations face significant challenges such as balancing ethical considerations with cost-efficiency pressures, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and ensuring transparency across global supply chains. Strategies for overcoming these challenges emphasize effective supplier relationship management, leveraging technological innovations for transparency, and investing in supplier capacity-building. The study reveals that ethical procurement practices contribute to organizational resilience by improving risk management, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and fostering innovation in procurement processes. Moreover, ethical procurement supports sustainable development goals by promoting environmental sustainability, supporting social equity through fair labor practices, and contributing to economic development. Future research directions include exploring the impact of emerging technologies on ethical procurement, promoting global collaboration for unified standards, and evaluating the long-term sustainability of ethical procurement initiatives.

This study explores the intricacies of supplier relationships and inventory optimization within high-technology industries, offering a comprehensive analysis of the strategic imperatives and operational challenges faced by firms in these sectors. By adopting a qualitative research methodology involving semi-structured interviews with supply chain professionals and documentary analysis, the study provides in-depth insights into the evolving dynamics of supply chain management. Findings reveal a marked shift towards collaborative and strategic supplier relationships, characterized by trust, transparency, and joint innovation initiatives. These partnerships are essential for enhancing operational efficiency, driving product development, and navigating market uncertainties. Additionally, the research underscores the critical role of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, in optimizing inventory levels and improving supply chain visibility. The integration of these technologies facilitates precise demand forecasting and proactive inventory management, thereby reducing costs and enhancing service levels. However, the study also highlights significant challenges, including geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, and cultural barriers, which necessitate robust risk management strategies and adaptive supply chain practices. Strategic implications for organizational leaders and policymakers include the need to invest in supplier development, embrace digital transformation, and enhance risk management frameworks to build resilient and agile supply chains. This study contributes valuable insights into the complex interplay between supplier relationships, inventory optimization, and technological integration in high-technology industries, offering actionable recommendations for practitioners and researchers seeking to drive innovation and maintain competitiveness in a dynamic global marketplace.

In today's volatile and competitive business landscape, achieving synergy between supply chain agility and marketing flexibility is imperative for organizations striving to enhance resilience and maintain competitiveness. This qualitative study explores the integration of these strategic elements and their impact on organizational performance in turbulent markets. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from diverse industries to capture insights into adaptation strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with aligning supply chain agility and marketing flexibility. Findings reveal that supply chain agility, characterized by rapid response capabilities to disruptions and fluctuating demands, is essential for optimizing operational efficiency and maintaining continuity in uncertain environments. Meanwhile, marketing flexibility enables organizations to adjust strategies swiftly based on real-time market insights, enhancing customer engagement and market responsiveness. The study identifies organizational silos, resistance to change, and technological limitations as primary barriers to achieving seamless integration. Benefits of synergy include improved customer satisfaction, accelerated time-to-market for new products, and enhanced competitive advantage through personalized marketing strategies and optimized resource allocation. Moreover, organizations that effectively integrate supply chain agility with marketing flexibility reported greater innovation, employee satisfaction, and sustainable growth.

This qualitative research explores the influence of supply chain disruption management on brand resilience and consumer perception. Amidst increasingly complex global dynamics, effective strategies are crucial for organizations to mitigate risks, maintain operational continuity, and preserve consumer trust. The study employs semi-structured interviews with stakeholders across diverse industries, focusing on strategies employed, outcomes observed, and challenges faced in managing disruptions. Key findings underscore the significance of proactive measures such as risk assessment, contingency planning, diversification, technology integration, and collaboration in enhancing organizational resilience. These strategies not only enable businesses to navigate disruptions effectively but also contribute to sustaining competitive advantage and stakeholder confidence. Consumer perception during disruptions emerges as pivotal, shaped by brands' transparency, responsiveness, and ethical considerations in managing supply chain challenges. Transparent communication and reliable service delivery during disruptions enhance brand reputation and foster consumer loyalty. However, challenges including information gaps, resource constraints, coordination issues, and regulatory compliance complexities highlight the need for adaptive strategies and robust partnerships across the supply chain. Overall, the study provides insights into the interconnectedness of disruption management, brand resilience, and consumer perception, offering practical implications for organizations seeking to strengthen their resilience strategies and consumer relationships in dynamic market environments.

This qualitative study explores consumer perceptions of supply chain sustainability and its impact on buying decisions. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, the research investigates the multifaceted factors influencing consumer behaviors towards sustainable products. Findings reveal that environmental impact, social responsibility, transparency, economic considerations, and cultural influences are pivotal in shaping consumer attitudes. While consumers express strong motivations to support sustainability, practical barriers such as higher costs and limited availability often hinder consistent adoption of sustainable practices. Effective communication strategies, including transparency reports and sustainability certifications, emerge as crucial in bridging the gap between consumer intentions and actions. The study underscores the importance of aligning corporate sustainability initiatives with consumer expectations to build trust and foster sustainable consumption patterns. Insights suggest a need for targeted interventions and policy measures to address barriers and promote broader adoption of sustainable behaviors. By understanding and responding to consumer concerns, businesses can enhance their sustainability strategies and contribute to a more environmentally and socially responsible marketplace.

This qualitative research investigates the pivotal role of Human Resource Management (HRM) in enhancing supply chain effectiveness. Through semi-structured interviews with 25 professionals across various industries, the study explores how HRM practices influence key aspects of supply chain management (SCM), including talent management, training and development, leadership, organizational culture, and technology integration. Findings highlight the strategic alignment between HRM and SCM as crucial for optimizing supply chain performance and responsiveness. Effective talent management strategies, such as recruitment, development, and succession planning, emerged as critical factors in ensuring operational stability and innovation within supply chains. Training programs were identified as instrumental in equipping employees with the necessary skills to navigate technological advancements and market complexities, fostering collaboration and enhancing decision-making capabilities. Leadership development initiatives were also found to be pivotal in promoting organizational effectiveness and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The study further underscores the role of HRM in cultivating a collaborative and inclusive organizational culture that enhances communication, trust, and teamwork among supply chain stakeholders. Additionally, the integration of digital technologies and sustainability considerations emerged as transformative trends shaping modern supply chains, with HRM practices playing a crucial role in facilitating technological adoption and promoting environmentally responsible practices. Addressing challenges such as resource constraints, regulatory compliance, economic uncertainties, and global supply chain complexities remains crucial for organizations aiming to optimize HRM practices and achieve sustainable supply chain performance. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how HRM can drive innovation, collaboration, and resilience within supply chains, positioning organizations for long-term success and growth.

Supply chain disruptions pose significant challenges to organizations, highlighting the critical importance of resilience in contemporary supply chains. This qualitative research explores the implications of supply chain disruptions on organizational resilience, drawing insights from interviews with supply chain managers and executives across various industries. The study identifies key factors that contribute to resilience, including agility, collaboration, risk management, strategic planning, technology integration, leadership, and organizational culture. Through thematic analysis, the research elucidates how these factors interact to enable organizations to manage and recover from disruptions effectively. Findings underscore the importance of agility in adapting to changing circumstances, collaboration with stakeholders to coordinate responses, and proactive risk management to anticipate and mitigate disruptions. Strategic planning and technology integration emerge as vital enablers of resilience, along with effective leadership and a resilient organizational culture that fosters adaptability and continuous improvement. The implications of supply chain disruptions extend beyond operational and financial impacts to include reputational and relational dimensions, emphasizing the importance of transparent communication and stakeholder engagement. The practical insights offered by this study provide guidance for organizations seeking to enhance their resilience and ensure continuity of operations in an increasingly complex and dynamic supply chain environment.

Abstract: The study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis for the genomic characterization of 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from cattle farms, cattle abattoirs, and retail outlets in Gauteng province, South Africa. The isolates' sequence types (STs), clonal complexes (CCs), and lineages were determined using in silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST). We used BLAST-based analyses to identify virulence and antimicrobial genes, plasmids, proviruses, and the CRISPR-Cas system. The study investigated any association of the detected genes to the origin in the beef production chain of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Overall, in 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes, there were 7 STs, 6 CCs, 44 putative virulence factors, 2 resistance genes, 1 plasmid with AMR genes and 3 with conjugative genes, 1 CRISPR gene, and all 60 isolates were positive for proviruses. Among the 7 STs detected, ST204 (46.7%) and ST2 (21.7%) were the most prominent, with ST frequency varying significantly (p<0.001). The predominant CC detected were CC2 (21.7%) and CC204 (46.7%) in lineages I and II, respectively. Of the 44 virulence factors detected, 26 (across Listeria Pathogenicity Islands, LIPIs) were present in all the isolates. The difference in the detection frequency varied significantly (P<0.001). The two AMR genes (fosX and vga(G)) detected were present in all 60 (100%) isolates of L. monocytogenes. The only plasmid, NF033156, was present in 3 (5%) isolates. A CRISPR-Cas system was detected in 6 (10%), and all the isolates carried proviruses. Significant differences were detected in the frequencies of STs and virulence factors regarding the source and sample type of the L. monocytogenes isolates. The presence of both fosX and vga(G) genes in all the isolates from the three industries (cattle farms, abattoirs, and retail outlets) can potentially cause therapeutic implications. Our study, which characterized L. monocytogenes recovered from the three levels in the beef production chain in the country, provides the first evidence of the distribution of the pathogen with potential food safety and therapeutic implications.

The concept of supply chain leadership strategy has garnered increasing interest from policymakers and experts, because it is among the most dependable practices to sustainable innovation and competitiveness for large firms across developing economies. Effective implementation of supply chain leadership strategic actions at each level in the company can create sustainable innovative and competitiveness. The study collected statistical data using an online Survey- Monkey questionnaire from 46 of top 100 JSE-listed companies with the intention to discover supply chain leadership strategic actions that drive sustainable innovation and competitiveness in the company. The findings expose a significant empirical insight for companies to understand and leverage supply chain leadership strategic actions to influence sustainable innovative position in a developing economy. These results suggest that firms operating within emerging markets should embrace and acknowledge the importance of sustainable innovation in business practices in the provision of goods and services. This study therefore delivers major contributions to the literature to assist in planning sustainable innovation and supply chain practices in a developing economy to survive in a competitive global environment. The paper also offers a vigorous awareness and knowledge of the common characteristics and strategies for supply chain management that needs to be prioritized by the JSE-listed companies.

In modern times, sustainability in supply chain management is one of the keys to boosting the performance of the supply chain, and it enables the accomplishment of SSCM. It has been found in recent years that SSCM with assist of industry 4.0 applications, can benefit splendid productivity and efficiency in the supply chain. The numerous industry 4.0 applications that are involved are Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) Big Data Analytics (BDA), etc. Industry 4.0 with SSCM has gained a lot of interest from various authors and scholars across the world. Healthcare is one of the most critical sectors due to its importance in handling public health. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and other viruses (SARS and Ebola) have highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities that are further mitigated by their lean and globalized structures. Covid-19 underlined the need for supply chain visibility problems within the healthcare sector. When the need for medical supplies became urgent and global distribution was disrupted, companies faced the consequences of needing the technology, systems, and plans in place to correctly predict the onslaught. One report shows that about 94 percent of Fortune 1000 companies reported supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 global outbreak. Existing studies have discussed supply chain issues and the importance of AI in addressing these challenges. AI, like Industry 4.0 in the healthcare supply chain, is proving to be a game-changer. This paper aims to review and present the various aspects of SSCM and industry 4.0 applications to get a comprehensive literature review, which contains the analysis of multiple articles published from 2010-2020. In addition, the various challenges SSCM and industry 4.0 applications face are identified and discussed. Also, the impact of Industry 4.0 and sustainable practices brings together the healthcare supply chain. This study will help in getting a good understanding of the different industry 4.0 technologies that are important for setting up SSCM.

Digital transformation is revolutionizing inventory management practices within supply chains, offering unprecedented opportunities and challenges for businesses worldwide. This study explores the impact of digital technologies on inventory management, focusing on the adoption of IoT sensors, RFID tags, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-based systems. Through a qualitative research approach encompassing interviews with industry professionals and secondary data analysis, the study examines key themes including enhanced inventory visibility, improved accuracy, advanced demand forecasting, and streamlined supply chain collaboration. Findings reveal that digital technologies significantly enhance inventory visibility by providing real-time tracking and data integration capabilities. This facilitates accurate inventory monitoring and decision-making, reducing errors and optimizing inventory levels to meet fluctuating demand effectively. AI-driven analytics and machine learning models emerge as pivotal tools for predictive demand forecasting, enabling businesses to anticipate market trends and adjust inventory strategies accordingly. Additionally, cloud-based systems and electronic data interchange (EDI) foster improved communication and coordination among supply chain partners, enhancing overall operational efficiency. Despite these benefits, challenges such as system integration complexities, high implementation costs, data quality management, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory compliance issues are prevalent. Successful adoption of digital inventory management solutions requires strategic planning, investment in technology infrastructure, and organizational readiness to navigate these challenges effectively. This study contributes to the understanding of how digital transformation reshapes inventory management practices, offering insights for researchers and practitioners alike to leverage digital technologies for enhanced supply chain performance and competitive advantage

This qualitative study explores the multifaceted strategies organizations employ to build resilient supply chains through effective procurement risk management. Conducted over a six-month period in 2024, the research involved semi-structured interviews with 25 industry professionals from sectors including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and technology, alongside document analysis and case studies. The study identifies four key themes: risk identification and assessment, supplier relationship management, digitalization in risk management, and strategic resilience practices. The findings reveal that organizations face diverse risks, including supplier, supply market, and external environmental risks, necessitating comprehensive risk assessment methodologies. Supplier relationship management emerges as a critical factor in mitigating risks, with practices such as regular audits, collaborative risk management, long-term partnerships, and supplier diversification being crucial. The adoption of digital technologies like predictive analytics, blockchain, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence enhances risk management capabilities, providing data-driven insights and fostering transparency. Strategic resilience practices, including inventory buffering, flexible sourcing, redundancy, and scenario planning, are essential for maintaining supply chain continuity amidst disruptions. The study underscores the importance of an integrated and proactive approach to procurement risk management that leverages robust assessment, strong supplier relationships, digital tools, and strategic planning. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how organizations can effectively manage procurement risks and build resilient supply chains in a dynamic global environment. The insights offer valuable guidance for procurement professionals and organizational leaders in developing resilient and adaptable supply chain strategies to navigate the complexities of today's market.

The present qualitative study delves into the sustainability practices within supply chain management, emphasizing insights garnered from leading global firms. With sustainability becoming an imperative across industries, understanding how top firms integrate sustainable practices within their supply chains offers valuable lessons for broader implementation. The investigation draws on interviews, case studies, and existing literature to identify key strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with sustainable supply chain management. Findings reveal a comprehensive approach involving the adoption of green technologies, ethical sourcing, and stakeholder engagement, all of which contribute to enhanced environmental and social performance. The discussion highlights the critical role of leadership, innovation, and collaboration in driving sustainability, underscoring the need for continuous improvement and adaptation. Ultimately, the study concludes that while significant progress has been made, ongoing efforts and commitment are essential for achieving long-term sustainability goals in supply chain management.

In today's globalized business environment, multinational corporations (MNCs) face significant challenges in achieving and sustaining effective supply chain integration across diverse cultural contexts. This qualitative research explores the influence of cultural factors on supply chain integration within MNCs, employing in-depth interviews and thematic analysis to uncover key insights. Findings reveal the complex interplay between culture and supply chain practices, highlighting challenges related to cross-cultural communication, trust-building, decision-making, and organizational culture alignment. However, the study also identifies opportunities for leveraging cultural diversity as a source of competitive advantage, emphasizing the importance of cultural intelligence and cross-cultural competence for supply chain professionals. The implications of the research extend to managerial practice, suggesting the development of culturally sensitive strategies for supply chain integration and investment in cultural training and development programs. Moreover, the study underscores the need for a holistic approach to supply chain integration that considers not only technical and operational aspects but also cultural and social dimensions. While the research offers valuable insights, limitations such as the qualitative nature of the study and the focus on supply chain managers' perspectives should be considered. Future research could address these limitations and explore the interdependencies among various contextual factors to enhance our understanding of cultural influences on supply chain integration in MNCs.

The present study examined metabolites in Northern wild rice (WLD), the impact of WLD supplemented high fat (HF) diet on gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and correlation with metabolism or inflammation versus HF+white rice (WHR) in mice. C57BL/6J mice received HF diet supplemented with 26g% WHR, 26g% WLD, or 13g% WHR+13g% WLD (WTWD) for 12 weeks. The levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines and monocyte adhesion were lower, and the abundances of fecal Lactobacillus gasseri species bacteria and propionic acid were higher in HF+WLD diet-fed mice compared to HF+WHR diet-fed mice (p<0.05). The anti-inflammatory effects of HF+WTWD diet were weaker than that in HF+WLD diet, but were greater than that in HF+WHR diet-fed mice (p<0.05). Relative abundances of fecal Lactobacillus gasseri and propionic acid in HF+WLD fed-mice were higher than that in HF+WHR fed mice. The abundance of fecal L. gasseri and propionic acid negatively correlated with metabolic and inflammatory markers (p<0.05). The findings suggest that WLD dose-dependently attenuated metabolic and inflammatory disorders in HF diet-fed mice. Interactions between WLD components and gut microbiota may upregulate fecal propionic acid and contribute to metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits of WLD diet-induced insulin resistant mice.

Pharmaceutical companies use crisis management as a vital technique to lessen the effects of catastrophes. In this study, the author highlighted the significance of supply chain management for crisis management in the pharmaceutical industry. The study concludes by discussing the role that supply chain management plays in crisis management and offering pharmaceutical businesses advice on how to run their supply chains in an emergency. We conclude after conducting a thorough analysis of the literature review and regress research. These are actions that pharmaceutical organizations can take to strengthen their supply chain management skills and enhance their crisis readiness: Identifying possible supply chain risks through routine risk evaluations; Creating backup strategies in case the supply chain is disrupted; Establishing procedures to guarantee a smooth and efficient supply of medications in an emergency; and Collaborating with vendors and other stakeholders to increase the resilience of the supply chain. The pharmaceutical industry is critical to healthcare, providing safe and effective medicines to patients. Supply chain management is essential for maintaining the flow of medicines during crises. Proactive risk assessment, backup plans, teamwork, and efficient communication are all critical for crisis management in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in supply chain management. In India, inadequate transportation infrastructure leads to a significant expense for pharmaceutical businesses. To mitigate negative effects, such as reduced healthcare access and insurance coverage, the study suggests implementing multi-echelon, closed-loop green supply chain models. These strategies aim to minimize total costs and ensure efficient resource management. To improve the resilience of pharmaceutical and consumable medical equipment during crises, policymakers should integrate modern technologies and consider business complexity, economic development, intense competition, and changing customer needs. The relationship between manufacturers, distributors, prescribers, and insurance organizations as purchasers should also be considered.

E-waste management (EWM) refers to the operation-management of discarded or unproductive electronic devices and components, a challenge exacerbated due to overindulgent urbanization. This article presents a multidimensional cost-function-based analysis of the EWM framework structured on three modules - environmental, economic, and social uncertainties - which contemplate the 3 pillars of sustainability in an e-waste recycling plant, including the production-delivery-utilization process. The framework incorporates material recovery from a single e-waste facility provisioning for chemical and mechanical recycling. Each module is ranked using independent Machine Learning (ML) protocols: a) Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and b) combined AHP and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). From a long list of possible contributors, the model identifies and ranks two key sustainability contributors to the EWM supply chain: overall energy consumption and volume of carbon dioxide generated. Another key finding is a precise time window for policy resurrection, which for the data considered, happens to be 400-600 days from the start of operation. Another interesting outcome is the quality of prediction using a combination of AHP and PCA, which consistently produced better results than any of these ML methods individually implemented. Model outcomes have been verified using a case study to outline a future E-waste sustained roadmap.

This article makes a general analysis of the supply chain of photovoltaic systems in Colombia, taking as a starting point a conceptual base and the current situation of the country in this sector. This article especially will contemplate the non-interconnected areas (ZNI) to the electricity grid in the national, due to its complexity in the logistics issues. Likewise, the work performs a graphical representation of the stages and processes of the supply chain using a powerful-modeled tool such as the Petri Nets (PNs). Finally, it identifies some of the flaws in the operation and the joint of all the links of the logistic part and from there it is based the importance of the strategy of orientation to the supply chain (SCO) as a possible alternative to improve and to enhance the logistic processes of this type of systems.

Mediterranean Diet (MD), rich in minimally processed plant foods and in monounsaturated fats, but low in saturated fats, meat and dairy products, represents one of the most studied diets for cardiovascular health. It has been shown, from both observational and randomized controlled trials, that MD reduces body weight, improves cardiovascular disease surrogates such as waist-to-hip ratio, lipids, and inflammation markers, and even prevents the development of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and other diseases. However, it is unclear whether it offers cardiovascular benefits from its individual components or as a whole. Furthermore, limitations in the methodology of studies and meta-analyses have raised some concerns on its potential cardiovascular benefits. MD is also associated with characteristic changes in the intestinal microbiota, mediated through its constituents. These include increased growth of species producing short-chain fatty acids, such as Clostridium leptum and Eubacterium rectale, increased growth of Bifidobacteria, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii species, and reduced growth of Firmicutes and Blautia species. Such changes are known to be favorably associated with inflammation, oxidative status, and overall metabolic health. This review will focus on the effects of MD on cardiovascular health through its action on gut microbioma.

Kenyan coffee is ranked among the best in the world and 99% is exported mainly to Germany, Sweden and Belgium, the USA and Saudi Arabia. Kenya produces quality Arabica beans which are generally recognized and upgraded with other relatively lower brands. In 1937, the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) was formed to represent small farmers' interests. In 1944, in the Coffee Board of Kenya (CBA) the law required smallholders to join local growing cooperatives run by government to reduce the power of large estates to control the board. Many reforms in the coffee industry have been initiated. This review explores evolution and existing coffee varieties in Kenya, the coffee value chain and the regions that grow coffee in Kenya. Additionally, the variety agronomics and appearance that encompass; quality potential at different altitudes, yield potential and nematodes susceptibility.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely recognized tool used to evaluate environmental impacts of a product or process, based on the environmental inventory database and bills of material. Data quality is one of the most significant factors affecting the analysis results. However, currently most datasets in inventory databases are generic i.e., they may represent material and energy flow of a process at market average, instead of a specific process used by a manufacturer. As a result, stockholders are unable to track their supply chain to find out the actual environmental impact from each supplier and to compare the environmental performance of alternative options. In this paper, we developed a new framework i.e., blockchain based LCA (BC-LCA), where block-chain technology is adapted to secure and transmit inventory data from upstream suppliers to downstream manufacturers. With BC-LCA, more specific data can be acquired along the supply chain in a real-time manner. Moreover, the availability, accuracy, privacy, and automatic update of inventory data can be improved. A case study is provided based on an industrial supply chain, to demonstrate the utilization of BC-LCA.

Background: The rise of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations brought challenges and progress in the global fight against COVID-19. Mutations in spike and accessory genes affect transmission, vaccine efficacy, treatments, testing, and public health strategies. Monitoring emerging variants is crucial to halt virus spread. Methods: 44 nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs from Kenyan patients were sequenced with the Illumina platform. Galaxy's bioinformatic tools were used for genomic analysis. SARS-CoV-2 genome classification was done using PANGOLIN and mutation annotation with the COVID-19 Annotator tool. Results: The study showed 5 clades to be circulating in the region. 38(86%) were BA.1.1; 2(5%) were BA.1.1.1; 1(2%) was BA.1; 1(2%) was BA.1.14 and 2(5%) were AY.46. These clades had a cumulative of 173 mutations among them with 50 novel mutations. Forty-eight of these novel mutations occurred in a low frequency of 2.3% of the sequences tested while the other two, S:R214R, and NSP2:A555A, were for 43.2% and 18.2% of the cases respectively. Conclusions: The high-frequency novel mutations were synonymous mutations, a phenomenon that was previously viewed as phenotypically silent but recent studies indicate they can affect viral fitness with potential functional associations. These findings add to the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus future evolutionary and immunological dynamics in the region

This study focuses on the impact of collaboration on reducing price inflation in renewable energy supply chains. The study utilises in-depth interviews and theme analysis to reveal the complex dynamics of collaboration among stakeholders and the resulting implications for addressing difficulties in the renewable energy sector. Trust is a key factor in successful collaboration, whereas legal frameworks and policy incentives are important in influencing collaborative activities. Collaborative procurement, cooperative research and development, strategic alliances, and collaborative supply chain management are recognised as crucial measures for decreasing expenses, promoting innovation, and improving resilience in renewable energy supply chains. Nevertheless, in order to achieve successful collaboration, it is necessary to overcome obstacles such as lack of trust, uncertainty in regulations, and competitive dynamics. Creating a cooperative environment that prioritises common objectives, openness, and reciprocal advantages is crucial for fully harnessing the potential of renewable energy supply chains in promoting sustainable energy transitions. The report provides practical insights and recommendations for policymakers, industry professionals, and academics who aim to encourage collaboration and reduce price inflation in renewable energy supply chains.

Recently dairying becomes an important farming activity in the districts. Even if these districts are potential in milk production and marketing activities, little was known about determinates of participation and level of participation in milk value addition. This study was analyzing determinates of participation and level of participation in milk value addition in the study areas. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected from 244 producers, 50 traders and 20 consumers by using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and econometrics model. Results from Heckman selection model first step revealed that milk producers’ participation decision on milk value addition was significantly affected by religion, distance the market, cooperative membership, volume of milk produced per day and market access. Whereas milk producers’ participation decision on the volume of milk value addition was significantly affected by religion, level of education, number of children less than six years, membership for milk cooperatives, volume of milk produced per day, access to market information, access to credit and access to livestock extension. Therefore, dairy sector development programs should take in to account determinants of participation decision on milk value addition as well as on volume of milk production.

‘‘Sustainable Supply Chain Management’’ (SSCM) has become a hot topic on which eminent researchers are working on every day. However, it is clear that we still observe in this field of research, an artistic vagueness on the fundamental differences between Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) Moreover, it is regrettable to note that previous researchers haven't yet thought about having a specific theory which can be applied to SSCM, the use of macro theories still being observed. In addition, we observe a lack of research in the oil and gas industry especially in Developing Countries when we know that this industry is the most lucrative and polluting. Therefore, this paper’s purpose consists to make a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of 38 papers published from 2005 to 2023 especially in oil and gas industry and in Developing Countries, in order to make a clear distinction between SSCM and GSCM while highlighting the practices related to them and at the same time, generating a united theory which will bring together the triple bottom line of the SSCM. As findings, the authors built a Conceptual Framework that applies the triple bottom line of the SSCM in oil and gas industry by demonstrating that GSCM which is more related to environmental issues and is a part of the SSCM. Therefore, in order to be more efficient and to have a great impact on their performances, Oil and gas companies should apply SSCM practices rather than GSCM practices which are very different from what is applied in Developed Countries because of certain barriers and pressures.

“Clickase” single-chain nanoparticles (Ck-SCNPs) are folded, enzyme-mimetic unimolecular polymeric nano-objects containing copper (Cu) ions able to catalyze the azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition reaction in water and/or selected organic solvents, often in the presence of a reductant. Herein, we investigate the effect of morphology on catalytic activity of Ck-SCNPs synthesized by means of two different routes. An amphiphilic random copolymer composed of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methyl methacrylate (OEGMA) and 2-acetoacetoxy ethyl methacrylate (AEMA) units was used as precursor of these Ck-SCNPs. Folding was promoted through metal complexation between Cu(II) ions and beta-ketoester-containing AEMA moieties. The first route resulted in Ck-SCNPs1 containing Cu ions homogeneously distributed within each nanoparticle, whereas the second one promoted intra-chain clustering of Cu ions inside Ck-SCNPs2. A model fluorogenic “click” reaction between 9-(azidomethyl)anthracene and phenylacetylene, which was catalyzed either by Ck-SCNPs1 or Ck-SCNPs2, was used to unravel the effect of morphology on catalytic activity. This work paves the way to improve the catalytic activity of metallo-folded SCNPs through control of the intra-chain distribution of catalytic sites.

Effective management of supplier relationships is crucial for e-commerce companies to navigate complex supply chain dynamics and mitigate risks associated with supplier disputes. This qualitative study explores the strategies and challenges involved in resolving supplier disputes through relationship management in the context of e-commerce. Through semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers, procurement officers, and executives from diverse e-commerce firms, the study investigates key themes including communication strategies, trust-building initiatives, negotiation dynamics, technological integration, organizational culture, and global supply chain alignment. Findings reveal that clear and transparent communication plays a foundational role in preventing misunderstandings and fostering collaboration with suppliers. Trust-building initiatives, such as consistency in commitments and transparency in business dealings, are essential for cultivating resilient supplier relationships. Negotiation strategies emphasizing principled negotiation and collaborative problem-solving facilitate the resolution of disputes while preserving long-term partnerships. Technological integration through data analytics, automation, and digital platforms enhances operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities in managing supplier relationships. Organizational culture characterized by collaboration, innovation, and leadership commitment to strategic alignment with global supply chains promotes resilience and responsiveness to market dynamics. Challenges including power dynamics, operational constraints, and cultural differences underscore the importance of proactive risk management and cultural sensitivity in supplier relationship management. This study contributes actionable insights for practitioners to enhance supplier relationship management practices, navigate disputes effectively, and foster sustainable competitive advantage in e-commerce. By integrating these findings into strategic planning, e-commerce firms can strengthen supplier partnerships, optimize supply chain performance, and mitigate risks in a dynamic business environment.

This qualitative research explores the profound implications of integrating real-time supply chain information on marketing decisions within service industries. Through semi-structured interviews with professionals from logistics, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors, the study examines how real-time data enhances demand forecasting, inventory management, personalized marketing approaches, agility in marketing responses, and supplier relationship management. Findings reveal that real-time supply chain information significantly improves accuracy in predicting customer demand and optimizing inventory levels, thereby reducing costs and enhancing service delivery efficiency. Moreover, real-time data enables more targeted marketing strategies through granular customer segmentation and dynamic pricing adjustments based on real-time market dynamics. The agility afforded by real-time information allows companies to swiftly adapt marketing strategies to emerging trends and consumer behaviors, maintaining competitiveness in dynamic service markets. Enhanced supplier collaboration and risk management further underscore the strategic value of real-time supply chain integration, fostering stronger partnerships and supply chain resilience. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how real-time supply chain information transforms marketing practices in service industries, highlighting its role in improving operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall competitiveness. Future research could explore implementation challenges and long-term impacts across diverse service sectors, providing insights into optimizing the strategic use of real-time data for sustained business success.

This qualitative research explores the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on supply chain sustainability within the renewable energy sector. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, key themes and patterns are identified, shedding light on the complex dynamics and interrelationships inherent in CSR practices and their impact on supply chain sustainability. The findings highlight the critical role of CSR in driving environmental sustainability, social equity, economic viability, governance mechanisms, and technological innovation across renewable energy supply chains. Environmental sustainability emerges as a priority, with CSR initiatives focusing on reducing carbon emissions, promoting clean energy technologies, and adopting sustainable sourcing strategies. Social equity is emphasized through stakeholder consultation, transparent decision-making, and investments in community development. Economic viability is addressed through considerations of brand reputation, financial performance, and regulatory compliance. Governance mechanisms and regulatory frameworks play a crucial role in shaping CSR practices, with collaborative partnerships and policy advocacy driving industry-wide change. Technological innovation, particularly the integration of blockchain, IoT, and AI, enhances transparency, traceability, and accountability in supply chains. The study concludes by discussing theoretical implications, practical insights, limitations, and avenues for future research, highlighting the importance of CSR in promoting sustainable development in the renewable energy sector.

Forage fish are crucial to human nutrition, especially in developing countries. However, in these countries, most forage fish catches are used to make aquafeeds for aquaculture, which leaves only a small quantity for direct human consumption. This practice increases fish prices in local markets and undermines people's nutrition. Overfishing forage fish for industrial purposes harms the ecosystem, reduces the catch of larger fish, and marginalizes local fishermen. Although previous discussions have touched qualitatively on the ethics and injustice of this practice, this article provides quantitative scales to measure the impact of the practice on the finances and forage fish consumption of low-income consumers using reasonable assumptions and literature values. Increasing the annual supply of forage fish by 25% to the 5 million MT of fresh fish markets globally could save consumers several billion US dollars annually. Families could consume a higher percentage of nutritious fish for less money. Furthermore, leaving forage fish in the sea could benefit wildlife and increase the capture of larger fish, such as mackerel, which are in demand in local markets and fished by local fishermen. The unintentional and involuntary contributions of low-income societies to enable the growth of high-value fish and shrimp for affluent societies seem unjust and warrant further investigation.

The gut has been a focus of chronic disease research. The gut microbiota produces metabolites that act as signaling molecules and substrates, closely influencing host health. Indigestible oli-gosaccharides (NDOs), as a common dietary fiber, play an important role in regulating the structure and function of gut microbiota. Their mechanism of action is mainly attributed to their carbon source as specific probiotics, producing related metabolites, and regulating the gut mi-crobial community. However, due to the selective utilization of oligosaccharides, some factors such as the types and structures of oligosaccharides have different impacts on the composition of microbial populations and the production of metabolites in the colon ecosystem. This review systematically describes the key factors influencing the selective utilization of oligosaccharides in microorganisms and elaborates how oligosaccharides affect the host's immune system, inflam-mation levels and energy metabolism by regulating microbial diversity and metabolic function, which in turn will affect the onset and progress of chronic diseases, especially diabetes, obesity, depression and intestinal inflammatory diseases, constipation. In this review, we re-examine the interaction mechanisms between gut microbiota and its associated metabolites and diseases, and explore new strategies for promoting human health and combating chronic diseases through di-etary interventions.

Deciding when to replace dairy bulls presents a complex challenge for artificial insemination (AI) companies. These decisions encompass multiple factors, including a bull's age, predicted semen production, and estimated genetic merit. This study's purpose was to provide a practical, objective tool to assist in these decisions. We utilized a Markov Chain model to calculate the economic valuation of dairy bulls, incorporating key factors such as housing costs, collection and marketing expenses, and the bull's probable tenure in the herd. Data from a leading AI company were used to establish baseline values. The model further compared a bull's net present value to that of a potential young replacement, establishing a relative valuation (BullVal$). The range of BullVal$ observed spanned from -$316,748 to $497,710. Interestingly, the model recommended culling for 49% of the bulls based on negative BullVal$. It was found that a bull's net present value was primarily influenced by market allocation and pricing, coupled with the interaction of semen production and genetic merit. This study offers a robust, data-driven model to guide bull replacement decisions in AI companies. Key determinants of a bull's valuation included market dynamics, semen production rates, and genetic merit.

The world has now entered into a replacement era of genomics due to the continued advancements within the next generation high throughput sequencing technologies, which incorporates sequencing by synthesis-fluorescent in place sequencing (FISSEQ), pyrosequencing, sequencing by ligation using polony amplification, supported oligonucleotide detection (SOLiD), sequencing by hybridization alongside sequencing by ligation, and nanopore technology. Great impacts of those methods are often seen for solving the genome related problems of plant and Animalia which will open the door of a replacement era of genomics. This might ultimately overcome the Sanger sequencing that ruled for 30 years. NGS is predicted to advance and make the drug discovery process more rapid.

Digital technologies have changed the way supply chain operations are structured. In this article, we conduct systematic syntheses of literature on the impact of new technologies on supply chains and the related cyber risks. A taxonomic/cladistic approach is used for the evaluations of progress in the area of supply chain integration in the Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, with a specific focus on the mitigation of cyber risks. An analytical framework is presented, based on a critical assessment with respect to issues related to new types of cyber risk and the integration of supply chains with new technologies. This paper identifies a dynamic and self-adapting supply chain system supported with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) and real-time intelligence for predictive cyber risk analytics. The system is integrated into a cognition engine that enables predictive cyber risk analytics with real-time intelligence from IoT networks at the edge. This enhances capacities and assist in the creation of a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and threats that arise when edge computing nodes are deployed, and when AI/ML technologies are migrated to the periphery of IoT networks.

In this paper, we study semiconic idempotent commutative residuated lattices. After giving some properties of such residuated lattices, we obtain a structure theorem for semiconic idempotent com- mutative residuated lattices. As an application, we make use of the structure theorem to prove that the variety of strongly semiconic idempotent commutative residuated lattices has the amalgamation property.

Network coding approaches typically consider an unrestricted recoding of coded packets in the relay nodes for increased performance. However, this can expose the system to pollution attacks that cannot be detected during transmission, until the receivers attempt to recover the data. To prevent these attacks while allowing for the benefits of coding in mesh networks, the Cache Coding was proposed. This protocol only allows recoding at the relays when the relay has received enough packets to decode an entire generation of packets. At that point, the relay node recodes and signs the recoded packets with its own private key allowing for the system to detect and minimize the effect of pollution attacks and make relays accountable for changes on the data. This paper analyzes the delay performance of Cache Coding to understand the security-performance trade-off of this scheme. We introduce an analytical model for the case of two relays in an erasure channel relying on an Absorbing Markov Chain and a approximate model to estimate the performance in terms of the number of transmissions before successfully decoding at the receiver. We confirm our analysis using simulation results. We show that Cache Coding can overcome security issues of unrestricted recoding with only a moderate decrease in system performance.

DNA sequencing methods were first developed more than 20 years ago with the publication of two approaches to sequencing methodology that became known as Sanger sequencing (1), based on enzymatic synthesis from a single-stranded DNA template with chain termination using dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs) and Maxim-Gilbert sequencing (2),which involved chemical degradation ofend-radio-labeled DNA fragments. Both methods relied on four-lane,high resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate the labeled fragment and allow the base sequence to be read in a staggered ladder-like fashion. Sanger sequencing was technically easier and faster, and thus became the main DNA sequencing method for the vast majority of applications.

The development of the chicken value chain in The Gambia has immense potentials to lead to the modernisation of agriculture and creating employment for young people and women. Chicken can be raised throughout the year in most parts of The Gambia. With increasing populations, environmental degradation and loss of rangelands, chicken is easier to producer than other livestock, such as cattle and small ruminants. The development of the chicken value chain in The Gambia is also mainly constrained at commercialisation. Commercial farmers in The Gambia are not able to compete with cheap import. Critical inputs such as day-old chicks and feed are imported. Most farms are operating below 40% capacity and only less than 4% utilisation of the available processing capacity. At full capacity and with some needed investments along the value chain, The Gambia has the capacity to meet the demand for chicken and eggs. 88% of the value chain actors believe that the imposition of tariffs on chicken imports will lead to the upward transformation of the chicken value chain being able to employ at least 10% of the Gambian population.

Backyard production systems (BPS) are highly distributed in central Chile. Poultry BPS have been previously characterized; however, swine BPS have not yet been deeply characterized in central Chile. In addition, there is evidence that zoonotic pathogens, such as influenza A virus and Salmonella spp., are circulating in both poultry and pigs kept these production systems. A total of 358 BPS located in central Chile were evaluated between 2013 and 2015 by interviewing farm owners. Severe deficiencies in biosecurity measures were observed. The value chain of swine backyard production identified feeding, products and veterinary visits, and replacement or breeding animals as the main inputs to the backyard. The most common origin of swine replacements was from outside the BPS (63%). Meat and live animals (piglets and breeding animals) were identified as the main outputs of the system. In 16% of BPS, breeding animals were lent to other BPS, indicating the existence of animal and animal products movement in and out of backyard farms. Results from this study suggest that swine BPS in central Chile represent an animal-human interphase that need special attention to direct preventive measures aimed at avoiding the introduction and dissemination of animal pathogens and the emergence of zoonotic pathogens.

This study aims to summarize the literature on sustainable global supply chain management so that researchers and practitioners can see the trends in the area in a single place. Systematic literature review (SLR) or Content analysis is used as a methodology of this literature review, studies that are published within the time frame of 2010 to 2020 are included in this literature. Dimensions to analyze each article includes; year of publications, methodology of research, data collection type, unit of analysis, industry, a country in which data is being collected, respondents’ types, the theory that is used in the study, dimensions of the sustainability and finally the purpose of study either it is to test the already existing theory or building up a new theory. I found that sustainable global supply chain management is an emerging field and there is potential in the area for researchers to explore the area.

This study aimed to investigate the appearance and frequencies of the booroola polymorphism of the bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1b (BMPR1B) gene (FecB) and the embrapa polymorphism of the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene (FecGE) in sheep in Thailand. A total of 454 cross-bred sheep blood samples were collected from four provinces in Thailand during August 2022 to July 2023. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to identify the FecB and FecGE genotype. The history of ewe birth types was collected from the owners to analyze the association between Fecundity (Fec) genotypes and the history of birth types. The genotypic frequencies of FecB for homozygous genotype (B/B), heterozygous genotype (+/B) and wild-type (+/+) were 0.22%, 1.54%, and 98.24%, respectively. Meanwhile, the genotypic frequencies of FecGE for homozygous genotype (E/E), heterozygous genotype (+/E), and wildtype (+/+) were 0.00%, 2.42%, and 97.58%, respectively. Furthermore, three ewes exhibited both FecB and FecGE genotypes. Fisher’s exact test revealed that the possessor of FecB genotype was associated with multiple births (p&lt;0.01). Both FecB and FecGE mutations were identified in crossbred sheep in Thailand. Sheep containing FecB allele is a better candidate to be selected to improve the prolificacy of crossbred sheep in Thailand.

An integration between the principles in supply change management in sport tourism and sustainability balanced scorecard leads to development of guidance and assessment criteria for a city to be a sustainable sport tourist destination. This paper aims to present a sport tourism sustainability management model (STSM), consisting of 5 perspectives, namely financial perspective, customer perspective, internal process perspective, learning and growth perspective and sustainability perspective. By using Delphi technique to obtain a consensus from experts, university lecturers, independent organization/association and business entities in relation to sport tourism management, the researcher defines elements to assess complex perspective for sustainable development of sport tourism. The result shows that there are 5 perspectives and 18 elements in relation to sustainable development of sport tourism. All perspectives and elements have high consensus as measured by Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance (W) of .488. To validate the model, the researcher examines correlation among the five perspectives with structural equation model and finds that the absolute fit is satisfactory, with the value of CMIN/DF at 1.830, RMSEA at .046, GFI at .951, AGFI at .919 and RMR at .038. In addition, the incremental fit also demonstrates positive result with the value of NFI at .962, CFI at .982, TLI at .973 and IFI at .982. As the model aligns and explains empirical data, it can support decision making for management team, effective and efficient strategy drafting for sustainable development in sport tourism and improving livelihoods of residents.

Ferroptosis is implicated in viral neuropathogenesis and may underlie HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI). Emerging data also suggest differences in brain iron transport by sex. We hypothesized that circulating ferritins that inhibit ferroptosis associate with neurocognitive function and NCI in people with HIV (PWH) in a sex-biased manner. Serum ferritin heavy-chain-1 (Fth-1), ferritin light-chain (Ftl), and urinary F2-isoprostanes (uF2-isoPs, specific lipid peroxidation marker) were quantified in 324 PWH (including 61 women) with serial global (NPZ4) and domain-specific neurocognitive testing. Biomarker associations with neurocognitive test scores and NCI were evaluated by multivariable regression; correlations with uF2-isoPs were also assessed. Higher Ftl and Fth-1 associated with less NCI in all PWH (adjusted odds ratios 0.53, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 0.36-0.79 and 0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.97, respectively). In women, higher Ftl and Fth-1 associated with better NPZ-4 (Ftl: adjusted beta (β)=0.15, 95% CI 0.02-0.29; Ftl-by-sex βinteraction=0.32, p=0.047) and domain-specific neurocognitive test scores. Effects on neurocognitive performance persisted for up to 5 years. Levels of both ferritins correlated inversely with uF2-isoPs in women (Ftl: rho=-0.47, p<0.001). Circulating Ftl and Fth-1 exert sustained, sex-biased neuroprotective effects in PWH, possibly by protecting against iron-mediated lipid peroxidation (ferroptosis). Larger studies are needed to confirm the observed sex differences and further delineate underlying mechanisms.

There are two purposes for this article. The first purpose is to perform a reiew of previous research on global supply chain management (GSCM) principles that can adapt and survive adversity, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The second purpose is to put forth a conceptual framework for the GSCM that is sustainable in the event of future turbulence similar to that experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. With regard to the issues raised, the article posits the following questions. Is there, perhaps, a sustainable post-COVID-19 pandemic GSCM? Can the COVID-19 pandemic-related international logistics system (GSC) turbulences be predicted with certainty using these sustainable post-COVID-19 pandemic GSCM concepts? Putting it all together, the paper concludes that, while debatable, sustainable GSCM is feasible and can be accomplished utilizing JIT, supply chain mitigation, and supply chain visibility, as demonstrated by the manufacturing firms referenced in the article.

Recent research has implicated the gut microbiota in the development of lymphoma. Dysbiosis of the gut microbial community can disrupt the production of gut microbial metabolites, thereby impacting host physiology and potentially contributing to lymphoma. Dysbiosis-driven release of gut microbial metabolites such as lipopolysaccharides can promote chronic inflammation, potentially elevating the risk of lymphoma. In contrast, gut microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, have shown promise in preclinical studies by promoting regulatory T-cell function, suppressing inflammation, and preventing lymphoma. Another metabolite, urolithin A, exhibited immunomodulatory and antiproliferative properties against lymphoma cell lines in vitro. While research on the role of gut microbial metabolites in lymphoma is limited, this article emphasizes the need to comprehend their significance, including therapeutic applications, molecular mechanisms of action, and interactions with standard chemotherapies. The article also suggests promising directions for future research in this emerging lymphoma and gut microbiome investigation field.

In recent years, Blockchain has been favorably adopted in the Supply Chain industry as it provides guaranteed transparency and traceability. The flexibility of Blockchain allows different applications to enable to exchange information; a significant middleweight layer is responsible for information transfer in the Agricultural Sector. The products that are manufactured at a global level in the agriculture industry are improved in safety, validation of some criteria, and quality. In the agriculture industry, the increasing number of complications associated with food safety and impurity risks needs high-level effective traceability solutions that act as necessary quality management tools to make sure satisfactory safety of crops. The agricultural supply chain today has complex ecosystems, consisting of several stockholders to authenticate criteria which are important like crop development stages, monitoring and validation, and compliance with the quality standard. In this proposed research, a systematic literature review will be done that includes smart contracts, Blockchain, and business transactions exclusively for crop production traceability across the agricultural and food supply chain. By using Blockchain in the agriculture sector, productivity, consistency, safety, reliability, and advanced security are increased. All transactions are kept and recorded on the immutable record of Blockchain associates with a decentralized system. Thus, it provides more traceability and clarity in the agriculture system in asafe, trustworthy, and effective way. A systematic literature review is thus enforced to classify the papers which are selected by the following classification: crop traceability, contribution type, research type, and their approach. For this systematic review, the papers which extracted are classified according to defined criteria. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap by collecting and analyzing studies available within the literature aiming to firstly, gain complete insight on the integration of Blockchain in the agriculture sector. Secondly, provide a summary of the present state of research on this area and identify gaps in existing studies. To achieve this aim an SLR was conducted. The findings of this SLR are discussed and researchers were provided with suggestions on possible directions for future research.

Abstract: Two novel low-dimensional molecular magnetic materials were prepared by a self-assembling of 3d- and 5d-metal complexes. These are the first neutral heterobimetallic cyanobridged compounds involving one anisotropic Mn(III) Schiff base complex and one octacyanotungstate(V) per molecular unit. A slow diffusion of the constituents’ solutions leads to a formation of the 0D crystalline complex 1 due to coordination of a water molecule to the Mn center prevents a polymer formation. A rapid mixing of reagents results in a precipitation of the microcrystalline powder of the complex 2, which on a totality of experimental data possess 1D polymeric structure. The magnetic studies have shown that antiferromagnetic exchange interactions are dominating in 1 J/k_B= -13.1(7) K, D=-3.0(1.3) K, zJ'= -0.16(20) K and g_av=2.00(1); while the presence of the significant intramolecular Mn(III)–W(V) ferromagnetic couplings through cyanide bridges is characteristic for 2 (J/k_B = 46.1(5) K g_Mn = 2.11(3), fixed g_W = 2.0). Due to the weak interchain interactions, zJ'/k_B = –0.8(2) K, compound 2 is a metamagnet with the Néel temperature of 9.5 K undergoing a spin-flip transition at 2 kOe. The slow magnetization dynamics of 2 was investigated at DС field of 0 and 2 kOe, giving the values of τ₀ 32(15) and 36(15) ps respectively, well within the range typical for SCMs. The respective ∆_τ/k_B values were 48.4(1.2) and 44.9(1.0) K.

Suicide dynamics form a complex system deeply influenced by interrelated factors, necessitating advanced methodologies for comprehensive analysis. This study pioneers the application of Particle Markov Chain Monte Carlo (PMCMC) methods in suicide research, recognized for their enhanced sampling efficiency over traditional techniques in complex, high-dimensional models. PMCMC is particularly adept at handling non-Gaussian distributions and navigating parameter spaces efficiently, preventing the entrapment in local optima. Utilizing PMCMC, our research simulated a broad spectrum of potential outcomes, clarifying the probable scenarios and their likelihoods, thus enriching the predictive accuracy and understanding of suicide dynamics. These methods facilitated the exploration of dynamic interactions among key risk factors such as mental health issues, trauma, substance use, social isolation, and access to harmful means, whose complex interplays challenge predictive modeling. The study extends previous applications of PMCMC in complex systems like H1N1, opioid crises, and COVID-19 to the domain of suicide, suggesting its potential in enhancing decision-making and intervention strategies. However, limitations due to the model's simplified assumptions and the specificity of the data to certain populations underscore the necessity for broader application to validate findings across varied demographics. In summary, while PMCMC offers robust capabilities for the dynamic modeling of suicide, it requires careful parameter selection and consideration of computational demands. Future research should continue to leverage this approach in more complex settings, enhancing our ability to predict and mitigate suicide risks effectively.

There is limited information on Tamarind production, trade and value added products in Kenya. Of late, there is growing interest in the domestic and export markets due to its multiple uses. The objective of this paper is to review existing literature to identify the missing value chain links which may help catalyse the scaling up of production and commercialization of Tamarind. Selected literature and interviews with traders and extension staff in the Coastal Counties were used to collect information for this study. Tamarind fruits are mainly collected in the wild in semi-arid areas of the country and marketed through informal channels. Mombasa is the terminal market for tamarind from Kenya and Uganda, from where domestic consumers and exporters obtain their supplies. Globally, virtually every part of tamarind tree (pulp, seed, leaves, flowers, bark and roots) has either nutritional, industrial or medicinal value. Tamarind fruit contains substantial levels of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids making it potentially useful in addressing wide spread malnutrition. Its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-diabetic properties gives tamarind wider application in conventional and traditional medicine. The findings suggest that scaling up the production and commercialization of tamarind in the country requires both public and private sector investment. The structure of this partnership should consist of the following value chain links: An efficient Seed / seedling system as a source of planting materials; production hubs by farmer associations, government institutions and private farms; aggregation centres for assurance of volumes and quality; processing, value addition and product diversification; an efficient distribution systems of wholesalers and retailers, particularly supermarkets; exporters and consumers. The agenda for further research should include breeding and availing early maturing cultivars demanded by the export market, quality management andvalue addition technologies.

The lean supply chain of construction engineering projects is to achieve the maximum satisfaction of the owners' needs in order to effectively achieve the goal of supply chain management. This paper explores an effective method of lean supply chain cost management for construction engineering projects with target cost management, so that each participating unit on the supply chain node can fully utilizes its core competencies to minimize internal consumption and waste, and achieve the optimal overall efficiency of the supply chain. According to the requirements of the goal planning theory of the construction project company, establish a lean supply chain cost planning system for the construction project, realize the basic model of the lean supply chain cost management of the construction project, and set the target cost from the lean project of the construction project. The technical decomposition is established by the process of cost decomposition and cost pressure transmission and sub-target cost planning.

Acid stress poses a common challenge for bacteria in diverse environments by the presence of inorganic (e.g., mammals’ stomach) or organic acids (e.g., feed additives; acid-based disinfectants). Limited knowledge exists regarding acid-tolerant strains of specific serotypes, clonal lineages, or sources in human/animal pathogens, namely non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) and Enterococcus faecium (Efm). This study evaluated acidic pH and peracetic acid (PAA) susceptibility of Efm (n=72) and NTS (n=60) from diverse epidemiological/genetic backgrounds, and with multiple antibiotic resistance profiles. Efm minimum growth/survival-pH was 4,5-5/3-4 and for NTS 4,0-4,5/3,5-4,0. Among Efm, only those of clade-non-A1 (non-hospital associated) or food chain demonstrated greater tolerance to acidic pH compared to clade-A1 (hospital-associated clones) or clinical isolates (P<0.05). MDR (multidrug-resistant) NTS survived better to acidic pH (P<0.05). The MICPAA/MBCPAA was 70-120/80-150mg/L for Efm and 50-70/60-100mg/L for NTS. Efm-clade-A1 or MDR strains exhibited higher PAA tolerance than clade-non-A1 or non-MDR ones (P<0.05). Higher tolerance was found in non-MDR and clinical NTS than in food chain isolates (P<0.05), but not between different serogroups. This unique study identifies specific NTS or Efm populations more tolerant to acidic pH or PAA, emphasizing the need for further research to tailor control measures of public health and food safety within a One Health framework.

This pilot study of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 35668 grown in media with and without polyols (erythritol) measured the resultant metabolites, including the short chain fatty acids by using head space analysis. Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI2 or BHI10) supplemented with 2% or 10% sucrose containing no polyols or either erythritol or xylitol and Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 35668) was grown aerobically. After 48 hours of growth the supernatant were harvested and centrifuged to pellet bacteria. Supernatants were removed from bacterial pellets then submitted for Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) analysis with an Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA 95051) system configured from three components, a 5973 mass selective detector, a 6890N gas chromatographer, and a 7697A headspace sampler. Streptococcus mutans growing in Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI2 or BHI10) supplemented with 2% or 10% sucrose but containing no polyols produced the following short chain fatty acids: methyl isovalerate, acetic acid, propionic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, ethyl butaric acid, 4-methylvaleric acid, hexanoic acid. When the Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI2 or BHI10) supplemented with 2% or 10% sucrose containing erythritol was used as media for this Streptococcus mutans strain, the following were produced: ethanol, acetoin, and acetic acid. Our results would suggest that constituents of the media may affect the bacterial metabolite production.

Establishment of diagnostic methods with low detection limits plays a critical role in the maintenance of early diagnosis, prevention of serious neurological complications, and control of the spread of ZIKA. In this study, we established the micro-droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and real-time fluorescent quantification PCR (qPCR) protocols for the detection of Zika virus based on the NS5 gene. For the Zika standard plasmid, the standard curve of R² was 0.999, and the amplification efficiency was 92.203%, as determined by qPCR. Both ddPCR and qPCR were positive for cell culture of Zika nucleic acid.The minimum detection limit of ddPCR is 1–2 times lower than qPCR. Moreover, all tests of Dengue virus (1–4 serotypes) were negative in cell culture. Overall, these results suggested than ddPCR may have a lower limit of detection than qPCR.

The effective implementation of a sustainable supply chain leadership (SSCL) strategy at each organization’s level, positively impacts on corporation’s competitive advantage and sustainable development. While fears have been acknowledged in previous literature, the benefit of designing Sustainable supply chain models for operational excellence and sustainable development is a noteworthy exploration. The study collected statistical data using an online Survey- monkey questionnaire from 46 of the top 100 JSE-listed companies with the intention to elucidate the large firms’ transition from longstanding linear approaches to sustainable production and consumption to a more circular approach. A bivariate data analysis was used to generate the results in SPSS. The results indicate a positive contribution of SSCL strategy to operational excellence and sustainable development of large corporations if only the entire supply chain system is well-coordinated and implemented. This study makes a vital contribution by proposing a new SSCL model for fast-tracking corporate sustainability and enhancing corporate contributions to sustainable growth.

We study a conformation of an albumin protein in the temperature range of 300K-315K, i.e. in the physiological range of temperature. Using simulations we calculate values of two backbone angles, that carry most of information about positioning of the protein chain in a conformational space. Given these, we calculate energy components of such protein. Further, using the Flory theory we determine the temperature in which investigated albumin chain model is closest to the free joined chain model. Near the Flory temperature, we study energy components and the conformational entropy, both derived from two angles that reflect most of the chain dynamics in a conformational space. We show that the conformational entropy is an oscillating function of time in considered range of temperature. Our finding is that, the only regular oscillation pattern appears near the Flory temperature.

Within the tourism industry, the creation, popularization, and dissemination of visual assets and cultural symbols attract significant attention. However, sports tourism delves deeper into this realm, emphasizing content innovation, creativity, and the application of knowledge. Amid the rapid development of a national unified market, the sports tourism industry chain, with intellectual property at its core, has become a crucial factor. Currently, the industry chain faces issues such as "short chains," "broken chains," and "narrow chains." To address these challenges, decentralization is necessary to ensure the stability of industry chain connections and promote value-driven chain development. Furthermore, it is crucial to address the diminishing marginal returns and diversification of the industry chain.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) is a critical aspect of supply chain management, particularly in today's dynamic and interconnected business environment. This qualitative research study explores SRM practices within the context of supply chain dynamics, aiming to understand how organizations manage their supplier relationships to achieve strategic objectives. Through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and participant observation, key themes emerge, including collaboration, trust, risk management, performance measurement, digital technology integration, sustainability, cultural alignment, supplier development, strategic alignment, emotional intelligence, and marketing perspectives. The findings underscore the importance of collaboration and trust in fostering strategic partnerships with suppliers, mitigating risks, and enhancing supply chain resilience. Effective risk management practices, performance measurement systems, and digital technology integration are essential for improving transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness in SRM. Sustainability considerations highlight the need for aligning SRM practices with corporate social responsibility goals and stakeholder expectations. Cultural alignment, supplier development programs, strategic alignment, emotional intelligence, and marketing perspectives further enrich the understanding of how organizations navigate their supplier relationships. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on SRM by providing empirical insights into the practices, challenges, and opportunities associated with managing supplier relationships in dynamic supply chains. The findings offer valuable guidance for practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance their SRM practices and achieve competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape.

The microbiome is critical to the function of higher organisms and the gastrointestinal microbiome in chief among them. We do not know what impact the spaceflight GI microbiome has on organismal health in the absence of other confounding factors. We used a fecal transplant model to address this question and we found that we can recapitulate some of the functional aspects of the spaceflight microbiome on the ground but the impact on organismal health was ambiguous showing neither a defined improvement nor a impairment to lymph transport, growth, or immune populations. Histidine treatment was able to alter some of the functional aspects of the microbiome. Overall it we can conclude that the spaceflight microbiome is not pathological but has distinct impacts on organismal health.

LiFePO₄ (LFP) or Lithium-ion battery with its advantages compared to common current motorcycle battery is an appropriate alternative in substituting wet and dry cell battery. Huge amount of demand of motorcycle along with the battery in Indonesia also make it an interesting product for business. In order to assess the commercial potential for such a new technology, market share needs to be estimated as well as the techno-economic feasibility. Hence, market share prediction using the residents of Surakarta Region and techno-economic analysis using NPV, IRR and PBP indicators have been conducted in this study. Calculation using markov chain method shows that LFP battery tends to dominate the market after certain period. Techno-economic analysis also figures out that the commercialization is feasible in three conditions - first mover, even with market leader and equilibrium point. Therefore, there is a great commercial potential for LFP battery especially in Indonesia.

A temporary monitoring system was installed on the 175-years-old historical Széchenyi chain bridge under its reconstruction process. The bridge is in the downtown area of the capital city of Hungary and plays a significant role in city life of Budapest. Six-month-long measurements were conducted during the reconstruction process of the bridge, yielding crucial insights into the structural behaviour of the historical structure. Measurement results were evaluated; the findings encompass the rotation capacity of pins between chain elements, and structural response to temperature changes. This information helped the decision-making of designers and construction company during the reconstruction made between 2021 and 2023. For instance, daily temperature fluctuations result in increased bending moments in the chain elements, rising up to 158% compared to the values observed during a proof load test in 2018. Furthermore, the measurements reveal an approximate 42% increase in normal forces compared to the proof load test, which highlights the high sensitivity of chain bridges to temperature fluctuations, where geometric stiffness plays a crucial role. Reconstruction, reducing self-weight, notably intensifies the impact on normal forces and bending moments. These outcomes strongly emphasize the dominance of dead load and self-weight in the case of chain bridges.

Rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring graft allows the patient to regain his functional capacities and to support him in the resumption of sports activities. Rehabilitation also aims to minimize the risk of recurrence, which is why it ensures that the patient's muscular capacities develop properly until they return to sport. Isokinetics helps strengthen and assess the strength of muscle groups in the thigh, but controversy exists as to its use by resistance to the open kinetic chain knee extension that would cause the transplant to distend. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of isokinetic muscle strengthening on the possible laxity of the anterior cruciate ligament and to be able to determine risk factors. The study relates to a population having benefited from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring graft from 3 to 6 months after surgery. Two groups are differentiated, one group exposed to isokinetism during rehabilitation, the other group, named unexposed, undergoes rehabilitation without the use of isokinetism. An anterior knee laxity test is performed 6 months postoperatively using the GNRB® machine for all subjects according to the same protocol. The test results were statistically analyzed to determine a relative risk of transplant distension for each group in the study. Comparison of the results of each group by univariate analysis did not reveal any significant result. Multivariate analysis showed interactions in the two strata of the study. It was argued that the use of isokinetics seems to have no effect on the risk of developing distension for the majority of subjects in the exposed group. A tendency towards transplant protection was perceived for each variable except the age under 25 years (RRa = 1.07). The use of isokinetics does not appear to be a cause of transplant distension in patients undergoing an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction when this method is introduced 3 months postoperatively.